Stokley: Only if Broncos ‘love’ Mayfield should they draft him No. 5

Forget the outside opinions and noise, Brandon Stokley says if the Denver Broncos “love” Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield they should take him with the fifth pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

The “Stokley and Zach” host said on Wednesday, “Who cares” if people think selecting Mayfield with the club’s No. 5 pick is too early? If you love him, you love him.

“My question would be, do you love him? Do you absolutely love this guy and you would be devastated if you didn’t get him and you think he’s a star? Then you take him at No. 5,” Stokley said.

However, if the Broncos aren’t convicted in their pursuit of Mayfield, Stokley said they should move out of the pick and perhaps take the quarterback later.

“If you’re not really concerned and you just like him but you don’t love him, then you can make a trade and move back — if there’s nobody right there that you really, really want — and try to accumulate more picks,” Stokley said.

At the very least, the Broncos will get a good look at Mayfield, who will be on the Denver-coached North team at this year’s Senior Bowl.

Last week, Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage reportedly told ESPNU on SiriusXM that the Broncos specifically asked that Mayfield be put on the North team for the all-star game next week in Mobile, Alabama.

On Friday, Denver 7 Broncos Insider Troy Renck told “Stokley and Zach” that it only made sense for the club to request Mayfield be on its team to “get more information on him.”

“Intel is power, and the more information they can get on Mayfield, how he can do in their practices with their plays, their playbook, all that would be valuable information,” said Renck, who also added that taking the quarterback prospect at No. 5 would be “too rich” for his blood.

Stay tuned to all the latest Senior Bowl developments, as 104.3 The Fan will be live from practices in Mobile all next week.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.