5 teams that should not have passed on Justin Fields in 2021
By Peter Jurich
The Denver Broncos (Original Pick: Patrick Surtain #9)
Arguably the best player drafted instead of Justin Fields between these five teams, former Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain is a terrific player. The Broncos should be happy with his production so far. The number one cornerback on a defense that has only allowed 20+ points four times in 2022, Surtain has been an excellent player and a franchise cornerstone on an impressive young defense.
However, drafting Justin Fields would dramatically change this team’s future and would likely have them competitive in a stacked AFC West. With quarterback problems of their own, the Broncos instead elected to trade two first-round picks and multiple players to the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Russel Wilson, and so far, the trade has been fairly one-sided.
But imagine for a second a reality where the Broncos elected to draft Fields over Surtain. Yes, they are probably a little weaker at the cornerback position, but the team would likely still possess an elite defense, wouldn’t have had to trade away Bradley Chubb to recoup draft picks, and would potentially still have tight end Noah Fant (who was a part of the Russel Wilson trade). They could surround Fields with great talent in Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Javonte Williams.
It’s hard to definitively claim that this team would be able to win the AFC West over the juggernaut Kansas City Chiefs, but on paper, this team, who would still own their two first-round picks, is a great foundation for the future.
Instead, the Broncos elected to improve their defense and trade for Russell Wilson, which was at the time an exciting move for the franchise and its fans, but has turned quickly into one of the most lopsided deals in recent history and could set the Broncos back for years, especially when considering the massive contract that Wilson was signed to.