Sean Payton is nobody’s April fool.

In the tradition of Mohammed and the mountain, the Broncos coach did not attend the draft-eligible elite quarterbacks’ Pro Days, instead requesting they come to Dove Valley.

The NFL draft begins in 25 days. By April 27th the Broncos will have a rookie quarterback. Shortly after they will add another veteran quarterback.

Who are the two to be, or not to be?

Although GM George Paton said at the NFL annual confab the quarterback draft group is “six, seven deep,’’ the Broncos actually interviewed eight at the Combine and attended all their Pro Days.

Scratch one – Caleb Williams. He absolutely will be the draft’s and the Bears’ No. 1 prime choice.

The Broncos are in play for the other seven – Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., Spencer Rattler and Michael Pratt. The team also talked with a third Michael – Hiers – of Samford, who might be undrafted camp fodder.

— The Broncos could trade up in the first round. “It’s realistic’’, Payton said. Yet, as a head coach, he previously never drafted a quarterback in the first round. He had Drew Brees (a second-round selection out of Purdue by the Chargers).

If they pull off a deal with the willing Cardinals, who are in the fourth spot and already possess Kyler Murray, the Broncos possibly could get Maye or McCarthy. But the Broncos would be surrendering a first-round choice for four consecutive drafts (2022-2025). On the draft evaluation chart, Arizona’s place is worth 1,800 points, the Broncos’ 1,200. Denver would have to include next year’s No. 1. No other team in in the first six above the Broncos likely would be trade partners. The Titans (7), the Bears (9) and the Jets (10) might, but Daniels, Maye and maybe McCarthy will be gone by then. The Vikings, with two first-round picks, would advance past the Broncos to grab McCarthy.

— The Broncos could trade down in the first round, as Paton has proposed previously. Every team from 20th to 28th probably would consider a Broncos offer – and give them the second-round pick they are missing and an exchange in a later round. Nix and Penix Jr. most probably would be available in the 20s.

— The Broncos could stay right where they are, but that’s too low for the top three (behind Williams) and too high for the others. If the Broncos do not make a move they’ll likely pick a player from another position – tight end Brock Bowers, edge rusher Jared Verse, cornerbacks Terrion Arnold (from Alabama, as was Patrick Surtain II) or offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu.

If the Broncos aren’t able to draft any quarterback, or decide not to, in the opening round, they perhaps would pick Rattler or Pratt in the third round.

To pause, the Broncos, as GM George says, will sign another veteran quarterback. While multiple maneuvers in the league with unrestricted free agent quarterbacks finally have dissipated the Broncos are left with three potential options. Payton particularly loved a quarterback when he was drafted, but Sam Darnold joined the Vikings.

Rather, Payton must choose from Carson Wentz (who Sean once said he could “fix’’), Ryan Tannehill (who lost his job with the Titans) and former friendly Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian, who was signed, and released three separate times by the Saints when Payton was coach. Because of injuries, Siemian started and lost four games in ‘21. Siemian, who would return nine years after his selection in the last round, managed a 13-11 record in the post-Manning mess.

A Broncos’ contingent, led by Paton, witnessed Maye’s Pro Day. But the franchise sent scouts to the Nix and Penix Jr. showtimes. A lonely wide receiver assistant was dispatched to Pratt’s performance. Broncos representatives appeared at the Pro Days of Daniels, Rattler and Williams. And McCarthy put on a personal workout for the Broncos following his Pro Day.

But Payton never was present, which is bizarre for a quarterback “guru’’, as Daniels characterized the coach at the combine. (He did go to Pro Days as coach in New Orleans.) Sean will be up front at Dove Valley, assuming several quarterbacks visit the Broncos — Williams, Daniels, Pratt and Rattler are not expected — but league rules don’t allow workouts at the facility.

Payton, Paton and Greg Penner have to dazzle them with personalities, and the quarterbacks must impress the triumvirate.

Because one of the QBs will be back after the draft.