Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Peyton Manning has given a strong indication regarding the Denver Broncos’ interest in a particular quarterback prospect for the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, and it’s not Oregon’s Bo Nix.

With the No. 12 overall pick in this week’s NFL Draft, the Broncos are widely expected to select a quarterback in the first round, regardless of whether they hold onto their current position, move up, or trade back.

Recent remarks suggest that the Broncos might be inclined to trade up in the draft. Manning revealed that the Denver front office is “very interested” in Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who appears to be equally keen on joining the Broncos.

“I know Denver is very interested in him and it sounded like a place he’d love to come to but it’s a little bit out of his control.”

However, there’s a potential snag: McCarthy is projected to be a top-five draft pick. Consequently, if the Broncos aim to secure him, it’s highly probable that they’ll need to make a trade up. If that scenario doesn’t materialize, Bo Nix from Oregon emerges as a plausible option at the 12th pick.

Alternatively, the Broncos could opt to trade back from the 12th pick with the hope of still nabbing Nix or targeting Michael Penix Jr. from Washington later in the first round.

Manning is firmly in favor of the Broncos selecting McCarthy. Following Michigan’s triumph in college football’s national championship earlier this year, Manning reached out to McCarthy, who initially mistook the text for a prank before realizing it was indeed Manning.

After a subsequent phone conversation between Peyton Manning and McCarthy, Manning was left impressed by the young quarterback’s potential.

With all this speculation, the outcome of the 2024 NFL Draft for the Denver Broncos is eagerly anticipated. Will they succeed in securing McCarthy, or will they opt for another promising quarterback prospect? Only time will tell.

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