With the NFL draft nearly here, Denver Broncos insider Mike Klis, of 9News, released his prediction for who he thinks the team is most likely to target in this year’s draft.

In a move that will excite half of Broncos Country and disappoint the other half, Klis believes that Denver is searching for a Drew Lock replacement.

“You want an inside linebacker or right tackle with the Broncos’ No. 9 overall pick? Pshaw! Quarterback, baby,” Klis wrote in the opening of his article. “An athletic, read-option, spread-‘em-out, fire-it and leg-it college-system quarterback who will help the Broncos keep up with the rest of the NFL, particularly all those QB stalwarts in the AFC West.”

But who exactly does Klis think that ‘fire-it and leg-it’ quarterback is?

Justin Fields.

“The Broncos don’t draft this high very often – and hopefully it’s the last time George Paton drafts this high during the six years of his first general manager contract,” Klis wrote. “The expectation is five quarterbacks will go in the top 10, and this is the time for the Broncos to get one. It may take moving up a couple spots, but Fields is worth it.”

Fields would be the dream pick for the Broncos. He can do everything you’d want to see from him at the college level and the processing concerns have been greatly overexaggerated. There’s a reason he was a unanimous selection for the top spot behind Trevor Lawrence on Mile High Sports’ inaugural Broncos Big Board.

If the Broncos don’t target a quarterback, Klis listed Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain, and Rashwan Slater as other potential targets at ninth overall.

In the second round, Klis has the Broncos doubling up on Buckeyes and landing linebacker Baron Browning.

“The Broncos finally get the sideline-to-sideline off-ball linebacker they have been searching for and Vic Fangio gets the next Roquan Smith,” Klis wrote.

Browning is an excellent fit for what the Broncos want at linebacker but he is certainly in need of some refinement.

This time Klis listed Jamin Davis as another option at linebacker and Davis Mills as a potential target if they don’t go quarterback.

Lastly, Klis has the Broncos taking Jevon Holland in round three, who was the consensus No. 1 safety last off-season before he sat the year out due to COVID. Holland would be an excellent fit with Denver considering how versatile he is, and the third round would be a steal for how talented he is and how quickly he could contribute in a major way.