BSN Denver Mock Draft 3.0: Broncos fill big holes in first two rounds

The 2018 NFL Draft will be the most important draft for the Denver Broncos since John Elway joined the team as an executive back in 2011.

It’s no wonder then that we’ve covered things more intensely than ever with our Senior Bowl coverage, weekly draft podcasts, and upcoming NFL Combine coverage.

After updating our big board and top 10 position rankings, we couldn’t resist giving you a two-round mock.

Here we go.

1) Cleveland Browns, Sam Darnold, QB, USC

Wyoming’s Josh Allen answered some important questions during his time in Mobile, but still not enough to push him over the top and surpass Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold, who remain the top dogs.

Though considering new Browns GM John Dorsey was part of the Kansas City Chiefs front office that traded up for Patrick Mahomes’ high-end upside in the 2017 draft, Allen shouldn’t be discounted.

While I believe Allen’s made an impression and put his name into the conversation, Darnold’s still the logical pick. That’s because the USC star has big-time upside and is the most consistent quarterback, in this draft class, on NFL level throws—or at least he has been the last two years.

The Browns will have options and the ability to maneuver up or down the board with all their picks, but if they stay at No. 1, Darnold makes too much sense.

The USC star had a few too many turnovers this past season, but that didn’t scare teams off from Jameis Winston or DeShaun Watson who had identical issues in their final collegiate seasons. Also, it was nice to see Darnold be more aggressive in 2017 than he was in 2016, showing a maturity in taking on more of the offensive load, and showing some clutch skills when USC needed it most.

It won’t surprise anyone if Cleveland manages to screw this up, but Darnold is the logical choice.

2) New York Giants, Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

This feels like a toss-up between Rosen and Josh Allen. Allen might scare the Giants off less than other quarterback-needy teams with Eli Manning still in the fold, who grants Allen more time to develop on the bench.

Rosen’s knock is his character, as he’s outspoken and that’s said to have turned off some teams, though it’s still early and the NFL has yet to sit down face to face with him. In the Big Apple where the media pressure is as high as anywhere, his personality might actually work.

He’s also extremely polished, and if his injury history checks out, he and Darnold are the clear top two selections in the draft, based off of their tape the past several years.

Of course, with Eli still on the roster, the Giants could simply address other positions like running back with Saquon Barkley, or better yet Quenton Nelson who’d provide a much-needed upgrade to their offensive line. If that’s the direction New York wants to go in, they’re more likely to trade down than to simply take prospects at less valuable positions like running back or left guard.

Regardless of who picks here, Rosen is the logical selection.

3) Indianapolis Colts, Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State

This is where it gets interesting, and while Chubb seems to be a consensus selection, that could easily change in a couple weeks after the combine. His tape is great, as is his motor, and he put out stellar production. However, he’s a good-but-not-great athlete, which might hurt him after his athletic testing numbers are in.

The Colts have always had a weakness for offensive playmakers, so don’t be surprised if they took Saquon here, nor if they picked Nelson who would address their biggest need; patching up their O-line.

However, their defensive front is also lacking in talent and Chubb would be a safe pick who could set the tone up front. In the AFC South, where competing against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans requires muscle up front, he’s a sound pick—for now.

4) Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans), Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

The Browns get their man at four and are able to build their backfield of the future with Darnold and Barkley. They already got a versatile safety last year in Jabrill Peppers, so while Minkah Fitzpatrick isn’t the same prospect, he’s similar enough that Cleveland might decide to go heavy on the offensive playmakers.

Adding two studs in their backfield when they’ve already invested a lot on the offensive line, added to an intriguing receiver core, and a talented young tight end could make the Browns offense more interesting then they’ve been since the franchise returned back to Ohio.

5) Denver Broncos, Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

This pick is completely dependent on what will happen in free agency. If the Broncos sign Kirk Cousins, then they’ll focus on strengthening other areas of their roster, particularly positions that saw cuts in order to create cap space for Cousins.

If they sign any other free agent QB, this should still be a spot in which Denver focuses on locking down a quarterback of the future in the draft. As the pursuit of Cousins is still very much an unknown right now, the Broncos are focused on the two quarterbacks we tracked in Mobile during the Senior Bowl, who their staff got to coach; Mayfield and Allen.

The two young quarterbacks have very different styles. Mayfield is more NFL ready than your typical spread quarterback with a high IQ, promising footwork, and extraordinary eye manipulation. Of the two, Mayfield’s certainly the most NFL ready, even though the spread system he comes from will require a steep learning curve in the pros.

Allen’s already well versed in a pro-offense—as that’s what he was running at Wyoming—however, he still has lots of things that he’ll need to iron out. The greatest concern with Allen is his accuracy and consistent mechanics, where he’s shown slight improvements but remained inconsistent in Mobile. He’s also at his best when getting out the pocket to improvise, which will require him doing a better job at picking his spots in the NFL.

Yet, if there’s a short-term placeholder at quarterback already in place, Allen’s out of this world upside could be too enticing for John Elway and company to pass up.

For now, we’re giving the Broncos Mayfield, who’s far from a sure thing, but is still a safer bet than the boom-or-bust Allen.

6) New York Jets, Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Like the Broncos, the Jets should be big players in the quarterback free agent market. Regardless of if they get Cousins, they should at least find a second-tier option who could allow them to develop someone like Allen, without having to force him onto the field right away.

7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arden Key, EDGE, LSU

Key has become a divisive prospect after a down year in which he was slowed down by injuries and only started in eight games. More concerning, that was preceded by Key “retiring” from football in the offseason.

Concerns about his desire to play and his consistency are there, but those same questions lingered around Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett before they went first overall in their respective drafts. So don’t count on Key dropping far. The Bucs need more pass rush, and the Tigers star was the premier rusher in all of college football back in 2016 with 12 sacks, so don’t expect the shine to have come off that much.

If Chubb is gone and the Bucs are scared off by Key, going with a running back like Ronald Jones or Derrius Guice could be a dark horse selection as well.

8) Chicago Bears, Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS/CB, Alabama

The Bears need a receiver most of all. As things presently stand, there’s no one worthy of this high a selection, so they address the other side of the ball with the versatile Fitzpatrick who could shore up their back end in a multitude of ways.

9) San Francisco 49ers, Connor Williams, OT, Texas

Williams, similarly to Key, has seen his stock drop after a lackluster season riddled with injuries. In San Francisco where the top priority should be building the offense around Jimmy Garoppolo, Williams would be a great fit in Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme.

There isn’t a better blocker on the move in this draft than Williams, and the Niners need help at tackle. Seems like an easy fit.

10) Oakland Raiders, Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech

The Raiders defense is Khalil Mack and nothing else. Particularly at linebacker, the cupboard is completely bare. If the draft unfolds the way this mock has, Oakland will be sitting pretty with their pick of the litter, and in this scenario, they go with the obvious choice in Edmunds, who at only 19 could develop into a true star.

11) Miami Dolphins, Ronald Jones II, RB, USC

The Dolphins pick is where this mock truly begins to get interesting, as they could go in just about any direction, including quarterback. In this scenario, they take the electric Jones who could become a big-play machine and give their offense an identity they’ve been lacking.

12) Cincinnati Bengals, Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

The Bengals are in disarray and in desperate need of change. Their offensive line has taken some huge steps back, particularly last season with the loss of left tackle Andrew Whitworth. Guard isn’t their biggest need, but with the value not matching up for the best available tackle at this high a pick, they take Nelson who’s a safe selection and could help sure up the offensive trenches.

13) Washington Redskins, Derwin James, DB, Florida State

Getting James this low would be a steal for Washington who could use a versatile safety, some inside linebacker help, and someone who can cover the slot—after the loss of Kendall Fuller in the Alex Smith trade. The Seminoles star can do all those things, and be a game changer because of that versatility in sub-packages.

14) Green Bay Packers, Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado

The Packers love Pac-12 prospects, and Oliver has all the tools to impress in Indianapolis. Expect him to rise up above the rest of a talented cornerback class after his combine performance, as he simply has the best combination of size, speed, and ball skills.

15) Arizona Cardinals, Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

The Cardinals will be in the quarterback market and could pull the trigger on Lamar Jackson or Mason Rudolph. They also need offensive line assistance, and while Brown’s conditioning and mammoth size will scare off some, he has the skills to go very high.

16) Baltimore Ravens, Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

The Ravens have always had a thing for Alabama prospects and are desperate for more receiver help, making Ridley a great fit here. The Bama star hasn’t produced as much as his talent would suggest the past two seasons in a run-first offense, but he regularly creates separation on tape. He’s the clear-cut best receiver in the class and makes sense in the middle of the first round.

17) Los Angeles Chargers, Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

Evans was a star at Alabama and can do a variety of things. The Chargers don’t have a ton of needs, but inside linebacker could use an upgrade, and Evans would be a great value at this point.

18) Seattle Seahawks, James Daniels, OC, Iowa

The Hawks will have to go through a bit of a rejuvenation process, as their defense is facing some serious injury questions to some of the Legion of Boom’s pillars. The biggest area of need remains on the offensive line, and Daniels is exactly the type of athlete that would fit their scheme to perfection.

19) Dallas Cowboys, Vita Vea, DT, Washington

The Cowboys are still fixing up their defense and could use a receiver. With a talent like Vea still around, they fix up their front with an imposing presence who has some deceptive pass rushing skills.

20) Detroit Lions, Sam Hubbard, EDGE, Ohio State

The Lions have a few needs and could’ve easily jumped on a  dynamic running back like Derrius Guice at this pick. Yet, their defense feels like it’s just one effective pass rusher—opposite Ziggy Ansah—from being a solid unit, which is why Hubbard is the pick here. The Buckeye has a great combination of motor, length, and athleticism.

21) Buffalo Bills, Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

The Bills are a real landmine in this draft as they have the assets to move up or down and target whoever they want. Jackson would make sense, and coach Sean McDermott’s already dealt with a former Heisman who’s a run-first QB in Carolina, and that worked out well.

Jackson is no Cam Newton physically, but he’s a much better athlete and has actually had a longer track record of success in college than Newton did. At 21, he could be a steal.

22) Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City Chiefs), Taven Bryan, DL, Florida

The Bills gave up on Marcell Dareus at the trade deadline. So all of a sudden their strength at defensive tackle has disappeared, with Kyle Williams on the wrong side of 30. Bryan isn’t a sure thing and more of a gamble on upside, but the kid will destroy opposing backfields with his insane get-off. Put in McDermott’s hands, he could become something special.

23) Los Angeles Rams, Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

This might seem like a luxury pick—as the Rams no longer have to go after a cornerback with the recent trade for Marcus Peters. However, Alec Ogletree hasn’t been great for them the last few years, and they could save $7 million by cutting Mark Barron, their other interior linebacker.

With the young Smith dropping, they snatch him up as he’d be a great value pick with infinite upside. A steal at this point.

24) Carolina Panthers, Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

The Panthers have had to watch several talented ends leave the past few years, and with a team built around a physical defensive front, they need to replenish that position. They’ve also always been an organization that loves to gamble on high upside D-linemen which is the exact profile Davenport fits.

25) Tennessee Titans, Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

Landry was college football’s sack leader back in 2016 and a projected top 10 pick. After a so-so 2017 campaign, he’s dropped off a bit. In the Titans 3-4, Landry would be a godsend as they need a productive speed-rusher just like him.

26) Atlanta Falcons, Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

The Falcons could use a defensive tackle, but the value didn’t quite matchup with how things unfolded here. They stay local and go with Wynn who had a great Senior Bowl week coming off a spectacular 2017 season with Georgia.

27) New Orleans Saints, Billy Price, OC/G, Ohio State

The Saints keep strengthening their offensive line to increase Drew Brees’ window of opportunity and keep the running game dominant.

Center Max Unger’s play has dropped off, and New Orleans has an out in his contract this year that could save them a decent chunk of cash. Price’s versatility would work great, and he’s a baller in the trenches, allowing the Saints to uphold their identity up front in the ultra-competitive NFC South.

28) Pittsburgh Steelers, Ronnie Harrison, SS, Alabama

The Steelers need an inside linebacker to replace Ryan Shazier, but the value just didn’t matchup here. So Pittsburgh goes with a phenomenal tone-setting safety to upgrade their unit. Harrison’s a bit of a forgotten man, but he’s hard to miss when yo put on the Alabama tape. A great value pick at this point.

29) Jacksonville Jaguars, Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

The Jaguars are one quarterback away from being a force to be reckoned with in the AFC. Rudolph is far from perfect, but there’s a steep drop off in this quarterback group after him. Jacksonville pulls the trigger as they hold onto Blake Bottles and can develop Rudolph behind him.

30) Minnesota Vikings, Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

The Vikings need help in both trenches, assuming they figure out their QB situation in free agency. Minnesota’s just one defensive tackle away from having a truly dominant defense. If they manage to add Hurst’s penetration ability, the NFC North could be in trouble.

31) New England Patriots, Hercules Mata’afa, EDGE, Washington State

Mata’afa will be a name to watch for at the combine, as he played out of position in college on the interior but dominated to the tune of 47 tackles for a loss in three years. With the Pats needing more pass rush, he’d be an intriguing pick if he proves he can adjust to being a regular on the outside.

32) Philadelphia Eagles, Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida

The Eagles one downfall in the Super Bowl was their corners who struggled in coverage in the second half. This is also a likely spot for a trade down by Philly, who’s short on picks in the top 100 after the Carson Wentz trade. If they stick here, Hughes would be a nice value and scheme fit.

Round 2

33) Cleveland Browns, James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State

34) New York Giants, Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

35) Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans), Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa

36) Indianapolis Colts, Mark Andrews, WR/TE, Oklahoma

37) New York Jets, Sony Michel, RB, Georgia

38) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State

39) Chicago Bears, Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

40) Denver Broncos, Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State

41) Oakland Raiders, Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

42) Miami Dolphins, Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

43) New England Patriots (via San Francisco 49ers), Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn

44) Washington Redskins, Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

45) Green Bay Packers, Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

46) Cincinnati Bengals, Uchenna Nwosu, OLB/EDGE, USC

47) Arizona Cardinals, Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis

48) Los Angeles Chargers, Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

49) New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks), Chukwuma Okorafor, LT, Western Michigan

50) Dallas Cowboys, Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State

51) Detroit Lions, Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State

52) Baltimore Ravens, Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

53) Buffalo Bills, Malik Jefferson, OLB, Texas

54) Kansas City Chiefs, Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

55) Carolina Panthers, Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

56) Buffalo Bills (via Los Angeles Rams), Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB/EDGE, Oklahoma

57) Tennessee Titans, Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State

58) Atlanta Falcons, Rasheem Green, DE, USC

59) San Francisco 49ers (via New Orleans Saints), Donte Jackson, CB, LSU

60) Pittsburgh Steelers, Matthew Thomas, LB, Florida State

61) Jacksonville Jaguars, Marcell Ateman, WR, Oklahoma State

62) Minnesota Vikings, Kolton Miller, LT, UCLA

63) New England Patriots, Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State

64) Cleveland Browns (via Philadelphia Eagles), Jordan Lasley, WR, UCLA