It’s the million-dollar question every NFL team yearns to answer – who’s the next face of the franchise under center? For the Denver Broncos and new head coach Sean Payton, that pursuit takes on even greater urgency this draft season. While their AFC West rivals in Las Vegas also have the quarterback itch, inside voices suggest the Mile High motivation is through the roof.

“I think the Broncos are a lot more motivated to get a quarterback early than what the Raiders are right now,” declared NFL analyst Brian Baldinger on the DNVR Broncos Podcast. His rationale? Beyond Russell Wilson’s ugly exit, the Broncos’ QB room is practically tumbleweed with Jarrett Stidham and journeyman Ben DiNucci holding the fort.

The Raiders can at least lean on steady vets like Aidan O’Connell and new gun Gardner Minshew to buy time. But in Denver, it’s a different breed of desperation – the city hasn’t groomed a homegrown QB1 since John Elway. The onus is squarely on Payton to unearth that elusive gem.

“It’s the priority right now,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo told NFL Network’s Steve Wyche on Sunday at the Annual League Meeting, reflecting on a similar scenario. “You have to really be in love with the guy to take him that high.” His candid talk hints at an unrelenting obsession befitting the stakes in Broncos Country.

With the 12th overall pick, Denver sits one spot ahead of Vegas in a high-stakes gamble. If the draft’s premier quarterback trio of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels are off the board, Payton may be “motivated” to channel his inner Clooney and orchestrate a draft heist to trade up.

Elway’s Ghost Haunting Denver Broncos’ QB Quest!

John Elway‘s aura casts a lingering shadow over the Broncos’ draft rooms. From Peyton Manning’s storybook ending to the Case Keenum experiment that fizzled like a dud firecracker, finding the next gunslinger to match #7’s legendary exploits has been an endless pursuit.

Now, Payton finds himself in the crosshairs, his mission clear: uncovering Elway’s true heir. His draft pick won’t just be the new quarterback, but potentially The Chosen One to finally banish the ghost of the Duke of Denver and reignite championship glory.

Read More: Is the 1983 NFL Draft Class the Greatest Ever That Featured Hall of Famers John Elway, Jim Kelly & Dan Marino?

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The franchise’s faithful have been starving for a worthy successor who can summon Elway’s magic. Will it be J.J McCarthy‘s Houdini act or a prototypical pocket presence like Michael Penix Jr? The buzz in Denver’s war room is electric as they pray Payton defies the curse. But a challenge remains. Their AFC West foes, the Raiders, are likewise hunting for Derek Carr‘s successor under Vegas’ dazzling neon glare. Draft day will be an Ali-Frazier showdown, with the legacies of two storied franchises hanging tough in the balance.

Read More: Denver Broncos “Really Liked” Patrick Mahomes in 2017 NFL Draft – GM John Albert Elway