With all of the misinformation in the days and hours leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. What cannot be anything but factual, however, is the Denver Broncos’ glaring need at the quarterback position.

Peyton Manning retiring was obviously the right choice given the Lombardi Trophy the Broncos just raised and his clearly declining skill set in the past campaign, but that retirement combined with Brock Osweiler’s departure in free agency left a huge hole under center.

Now granted, the team has added Mark Sanchez as a potential stopgap for grooming an heir apparent, but the last thing a team with a Super Bowl caliber defense wants to do is hope Sanchez doesn’t screw up while they lose games due to shoddy offense. Ask Rex Ryan how that went with the New York Jets.

So it makes some sense that the Broncos would be interested in Paxton Lynch out of Memphis to take over as the franchise signal-caller in the future.

#Broncos and #Browns are looking to trade up from 31, 32, @DraftCampbell reports – https://t.co/U3dxjVSQ0f

— Walter Cherepinsky (@walterfootball) April 23, 2016

What doesn’t make as much sense is the potential wheeling and dealing John Elway will have to do to get his man. The Arizona Cardinals at No. 29, Kansas City Chiefs at No. 28 and the Jets at No. 20 are all thought to have interest in Lynch. Heck, even a team like the Cleveland Browns could move down again into the middle of Round 1 to take the Memphis QB.

Needless to say, the king’s ransom the Broncos would have to pay to move up high enough to land Lynch doesn’t add up to the immediate benefit the team would see from adding him. This is a defense built to win now, so forfeiting picks that could be used to add weapons on offense and fortify the offensive line would be an ill-advised move.

So while this rumor seems juicy on the surface, it would make much more sense for the Broncos to say put and take a guy like Connor Cook, who has long been thought of as the most pro-ready QB in the 2016 draft class.