Elliot878 Mock Draft

[elliot878]

The big 3 quarterbacks are off the board in the first 3 picks, and the Browns grab Barkley with the 4th pick.

At 5 the Broncos are left with 2 of the 3 best players in the draft available in Bradley Chubb and Quentin Nelson.  1 of Josh Allen and Josh Rosen is still on the board as well, depending on which the Jets took.  

Desperate for a QB, the Bills trade the 12th and 22nd pick to the Broncos for the 5th overall pick to get their QB.

Chubb goes 6th to the Colts to fill a big need.

The Bucs take a DB at 7.

Broncos trade the 12th overall pick + their 3rd round pick #71 overall to the Bears for the 8th overall pick.

8.  Quentin Nelson - OG - Notre Dame

• Nelson is the best player on the board, and the best player in this draft.  He's got hall of fame potential, and it's actually pretty wild to hear some of the things coming out of scouts mouths about this guy.  "One of the best run blockers I've ever evaluated" ... "will make tape room sessions uncomfortable for most opponents" and from his own mouth... "I want to dominate all my opponents and take their will away to play the game."  YEA I want that on the Broncos, I want that attitude in the position room rubbing off on the rest of the linemen, and it'd be nice to see a dominant line again in Denver that springs the run game and gives the QB a chance.
• Alternative:  Stay at 5 and draft Nelson, Chubb or one of the QB's.

22. Leighton Vander Esch - ILB - Boise State

• I'm kind of shocked at this pick, as this is a guy who wasn't on my radar, and honestly it's a position that wasn't on my radar either, especially with Todd Davis new contract and the addition of Su'a Cravens.  That said, Todd Davis is a 2 down specialist, and Su'a Cravens has some serious injury concerns. Not that I believe Elway would ever pull the trigger, but the situation with Denver's roster puts Denver in a good position to go for a high upside inside linebacker.  Vander Esch is a do it all inside linebacker who is very fast, has great instincts and can play all three downs.  The knock on him is he's a one year starter, and he could use some more muscle (he's 6'4 250, but has the frame to pack on more muscle), as well as some technique that needs improvement.  This is an inside linebacker with elite instincts paired with great athleticism, that's the formula I look for in inside linebackers.  This is a pick with extremely high upside.
• Alternative:  Harold Landry, Lamar Jackson, Mason Rudolph

Broncos trade R2 Pick 40 + R4 Pick 106 to the Bills for R2 Pick 53 + R3 Pick 65

53. Rasheem Green - DL - USC

• Green is a former 5 star high school recruit still coming into his own on the field.  He's gotten better each year in college, and if he had stayed another year, some scouts think he'd be a first rounder, with potentially top 10 upside.  He's only 275 right now, but has a 6'5 frame that will turn into the prototypical 5-tech with an NFL strength program.  He's got the upside to be what we've lacked at the position since Malik Jackson left, a complete player with upside to be a dynamic interior pass rusher.

65.  Orlando Brown - OT - Oklahoma

• If Orlando Brown is available with the 1st pick in the 3rd round, I hope the Broncos are all over it. Sure he needs to get stronger, but I don't care about the 40 time.  His tape shows first round talent, that's what I care about.  He has the size and length to contribute, and to be a starter for a long time in the league.  With his size he's not the typical Denver tackle, but the Broncos need a backup who can play sooner than later in case of an injury to Jared Veldheer.  Menelik Watson will be cut, and is not an option.

113. Dalton Schultz - TE - Stanford

• With Virgil Green leaving, the Broncos will be looking for a body at TE.  Schultz is very well rounded, and a force as a blocker.  His pass catching stats are underwhelming but he has a big frame and the athleticism to be useful in the pass game.  Pairing him with Jake Butt should give us a couple well rounded youngsters at the position.

149.  Isaac Yiadom - CB - Boston College

• Elway will likely go with a CB earlier in the draft than this, I don't think the need is necessarily there.  What I do think Denver will prioritize from their cornerback selection is length.  Yiadom has solid length at 6'1 and projects as a solid press man corner.  The reason for this pick, and where he'll contribute immediately, however, is his ability on special teams as a gunner.

160. Hercules Mata'afa - DL - Washington State

• This guy is very tough to play, but he'll make the team based on pure want to.  He's impossible to project as he was a 250 pounder lining up at DT for Washington State (and dominating).  Mata'afa defines "non-stop motor."  He'll have to play the edge in the NFL, something he hasn't done, but he just seems like a pure football player who will find a way with his energy.  At the very least he's going to be an awesome special teamer.  This could be too early, but it's our last pick, and he's the type of player worth betting on.

Depth Chart

QB - Case Keenum - Paxton Lynch - Chad Kelly

RB - CJ Anderson - Devin Booker - De'Angelo Henderson

FB - Andy Janovich

WR - Demaryius Thomas - Emmanuel Sanders - Carlos Henderson - Jordan Taylor - Isaiah McKenzie

TE - Jake Butt - Dalton Schultz - Jeff Heuerman

LT - Garret Bolles

LG - Quentin Nelson - Connor McGovern

C - Matt Paradis - 

RG - Ron Leary - Billy Turner

RT - Jared Veldheer - Orlando Brown

DE - Derek Wolfe - Shelby Harris - Clinton McDonald - Rasheem Green - Adam Gotsis

NT - Domata Peko - Zach Kerr - Kyle Peko

OLB - Von Miller - Shane Ray - Shaq Barrett - Hercules Mata'afa

ILB - Brandon Marshall - Todd Davis - Leighton Vander Esch - Zaire Anderson

NLB - Su'a Cravens

CB - Chris Harris Jr. - Bradley Roby - Tremaine Brock - Brendan Langley - Isaac Yiadom

SS - Justin Simmons - Will Parks

FS - Darian Stewart - Jamal Carter

K - Brandon McManus

P - Riley Dixon

[thebestever6]

Love it elliot great work would like an rb at some point though lol.

[Epic]

Big fan of Green and I do think we have to address the edge.   We have lots of injury issues with Wolfe and Gostis.   I am with TB6 in that if we make 7-8 picks, one of them will be RB.   I like Andrews at TE but he will likely be gone by 114.   A little uneasy about Brown as well.  I like Vander Esch but at #22?  If we could get Nelson at #8 that would be huge. 

Besides RB and WR, you definitely got the need areas for us.  Nice work.

[Broncofan]

Nelson and LVE would be great picks at their slot.  

Brown is still a DND.   Just guys with conditioning concerns and who don’t rotate in (like 0 tech NT) can’t be guys we draft.   I’d use 3.65 on another developmental LT like Parker or RB/WR. 

[jsthomp2007]

Shockey nobody has walker on their depth chart as DL or even a OLB. I think he will be starting DE mid year.

[elliot878]

56 minutes ago, jsthomp2007 said:

Shockey nobody has walker on their depth chart as DL or even a OLB. I think he will be starting DE mid year.

Just a screw up by me, I agree with you.

[7DnBrnc53]

This isn't bad. Nelson and Brown would really upgrade this offensive line.

Looking at the depth chart, though, I think that D. Henderson would be the second-string RB, and Traylor would be the third-string TE instead of Heuerman.

[AKRNA]

I'd love this one @elliot878. Good emphasis on both sides of the LOS. Defensive front 7 and OL/TE both.

I'd be ecstatic if we could get Nelson at 8 but still real happy if we could get him at 5. He's really gonna be special. He'd set the tone for our OL for the next decade +. When the dust settles on this draft class I'd expect him to have the best career of the bunch. How fun would it be to watch one of the best OG's in the league every Sunday for the next 10 years?

[elliot878]

10 hours ago, AKRNA said:

I'd love this one @elliot878. Good emphasis on both sides of the LOS. Defensive front 7 and OL/TE both.

I'd be ecstatic if we could get Nelson at 8 but still real happy if we could get him at 5. He's really gonna be special. He'd set the tone for our OL for the next decade +. When the dust settles on this draft class I'd expect him to have the best career of the bunch. How fun would it be to watch one of the best OG's in the league every Sunday for the next 10 years?

Yea, this pretty much sums up my opinions on Nelson.  I don't see another pick at 5 that can provide as large an impact to the Broncos roster than Nelson.  The play on the field is one thing, but it's the attitude that he brings and the impact he would have on the position room.  It's something that this team specifically needs. I can't find another player with the attitude and intangibles that I've heard about this guy.  

Chubb is a great talent as well, but Von has taken over leadership of that position group. Our OL desperately needs an infusion of leadership and attitude, and Nelson would bring that.  That's why I put Nelson over Chubb right now. 

The only other possible pick that could provide that sort of widespread impact on the team is if they took one of these QB's and he turned into a franchise QB.

 

[broncos67]

This is a pretty good draft, but I can't see that many trades actually happening. I think if they moved down to 12, they would stay and take someone like Roquan (if there) and then maybe Hernandez at 22 or something.

Like Yiadom, think he can be a good contibutor. I'm kinda lukewarm on Rasheem Green and especially on Orlando Brown though. All things aside, Brown has major weight issues and has not proven adept at any sort of conditioning. He most certainly will have issues in altitude given those issues. He would be a firm DND for me unless he completely pulls a 180.

I do like Nelson a lot, but I don't really agree with the logic above. Chubb is a more valuable option than Nelson. Point blank. It's fair to say that Nelson could be a tremendous leader, but Chubb plays a more valuable position and is arguably as good or better of a propsect than Nelson. I think he can provide a big impact Day 1 as well.

[elliot878]

8 hours ago, broncos67 said:

This is a pretty good draft, but I can't see that many trades actually happening. I think if they moved down to 12, they would stay and take someone like Roquan (if there) and then maybe Hernandez at 22 or something.

Like Yiadom, think he can be a good contibutor. I'm kinda lukewarm on Rasheem Green and especially on Orlando Brown though. All things aside, Brown has major weight issues and has not proven adept at any sort of conditioning. He most certainly will have issues in altitude given those issues. He would be a firm DND for me unless he completely pulls a 180.

I do like Nelson a lot, but I don't really agree with the logic above. Chubb is a more valuable option than Nelson. Point blank. It's fair to say that Nelson could be a tremendous leader, but Chubb plays a more valuable position and is arguably as good or better of a propsect than Nelson. I think he can provide a big impact Day 1 as well.

We'll have to disagree on Nelson vs Chubb.  I wouldn't be upset if Chubb were the pick, that could create an insane pass rush duo, always fun to watch.  That said, there really isn't even a question as to who would have the bigger impact on the team, whether it be as a rookie as a 7 year vet assuming all things go right for both players.  Nelson, to me, is  the most "sure thing" OL prospect since Joe Thomas.  He's that good.

As far as positional value goes - defensive end has more monetary value, yea, but a player like Nelson is going to be a crutch for any tackle you put next to him.  There's support value there that isn't being factored in.  I'm actually extremely interested to see what Mike McGlinchey's career will look like.  Seems like a solid prospect but interested to see how much he's been buoyed by Nelson.

[jsthomp2007]

So, if the Broncos draft Vander Esch...are we required to eat pre-game meals that consist of some kind of schnitzel?  I love schnitzel.  Fresh Craft in Lodo does it right....is that place still there?  It was off of 14th and Blake...delicious!  

[AnAngryAmerican]

I like the mock and the trades are creative, there's lots of movement on draft day so having some trades in there makes it realistic. 

I wouldn't have a huge problem moving down even if Nelson and/or Chubb are on the board as we could use an infusion of talent on cheap rookie contracts all over the field. Moving down and then back up to get Nelson would be a major coup by Elway and would draw plaudits from across the league. The only pick I don't like is Orlando Brown, although getting him at No. 65 is good value, I just worry about someone who has weight/conditioning issues playing half his games a mile above sea level. It's also unconventional as this team, regardless of who's been the decision-maker, drafting an OL of his type.

But all in all I like it a lot.