BSN Denver Mock draft 5.0: Three rounds dictated by quarterbacks at the top

In only a few more weeks, we’re going to know what the Denver Broncos will do with a pick that should be franchise-altering in the 2018 NFL Draft. It’s not all about the first round, though, as John Elway has done a nice job of loading up on picks, making this a real make-or-break draft for the franchise.

Because of this, we set out to project the first three rounds. As things head up and the rumors are swirling more than ever, here’s what we think could happen in the upcoming draft.

Mind you, this is a prediction of how we think things will go, not how we would select the players, our latest big board and updated position rankings are the best way to gauge that.

Let’s dig in.

1) CLEVELAND BROWNS, SAM DARNOLD, QB, USC

This pick is up in the air with Cleveland’s brass still torn—and debating internally—between Darnold or Wyoming’s Josh Allen. Even though Darnold and Allen are likely to be the first two signal-callers to go off the board, who Cleveland takes will have a massive trickle-down effect on the rest of the draft.

Darnold is younger, has played against better competition and I believe he’s a better fit in Hue Jackson’s scheme. More importantly, he’s more NFL ready, though that’s debatable since Allen comes from a pro-style offense. For now, we’re projecting Darnold but Allen being selected wouldn’t surprise at all.

2) NEW YORK GIANTS, BRADLEY CHUBB, DE, NORTH CAROLINA STATE

This is where the trickle-down effect starts to take shape because if the Browns go with Allen, the Giants are said to really like Darnold. If Darnold isn’t around, the situation is much more fluid as a trade down could be in play, too.

However, if there’s one non-quarterback prospect that the top five teams seem to really like—including Denver—it’s Chubb. With New York caught between rebuilding and trying to win now, Chubb can be a solid building block for the future on a defense that could be competitive with a few touch-ups.

3) NEW YORK JETS (FROM IND), JOSH ALLEN, QB, WYOMING

The Jets moved up back in March because they’re hungry for a quarterback of the future, and given the depth of this class, felt good enough to be at the third pick where they could take whoever fell to them.

In this scenario, they’re in an enviable position with Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, and Allen all still available. Given the way in which he’s improved during the draft process, Allen seems like a safe bet, especially in New York where his big arm is suited perfectly to handle the adverse weather.

4) BUFFALO BILLS (FROM CLE), JOSH ROSEN, QB, UCLA

-Projected trade – Cleveland gets the Bills two first-round picks in 2018 plus a 2019 second rounder-

In a year like this, it feels like we’re bound to have four quarterbacks taken in the top five, if not four in the top four. The Browns top non-quarterback options seem to be Chubb, Saquon Barkley, and Denzel Ward. With Chubb gone and a really deep RB class, they can still snatch up a back with one of their next picks, meaning that they could be open to trade down, allowing Cleveland to address a multitude of needs.

The Bills have been all-in this offseason on trying to get a quarterback, and with Rosen falling to this pick they had to pounce, overpaying a bit.

Rosen isn’t for everyone as his outspoken personality will rub the NFL the wrong way, but in a smaller market like Buffalo, he can work. He’s polished beyond his years and would be a slam-dunk pick for the Bills, even if they have to pay a hefty price.

5) DENVER BRONCOS, BAKER MAYFIELD, QB, OKLAHOMA

If you had to rank the Broncos top targets, it feels like its Rosen, Mayfield, Chubb and Quenton Nelson. Denver could consider moving up to No. 4 to get Rosen but they might like Mayfield even more, and with Chubb gone, the reigning Heisman winner is an easy selection.

Mayfield, who we broke down film on here, would be an exciting pick and would fit perfectly in Denver where he can be groomed behind Case Keenum.

If Mayfield, Rosen, and Chubb are all gone, the Broncos could also consider trading down with the Bills or the Arizona Cardinals being the main candidates to move up, but that likely only occurs if a quarterback who the Broncos aren’t interested in—possibly Josh Allen—is still around.

6) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (FROM NYJ), QUENTON NELSON, OG, NOTRE DAME

The Colts could do what the Colts often do and go all in on an offensive playmaker like Barkley, or they could be responsible and build a solid foundation up front to protect Andrew Luck. Nelson is the responsible pick.

7) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, SAQUON BARKLEY, RB, PENN STATE

Barkley’s fall ends here, and it might not seem as far fetched as some may think. There are some questions with his ability as an interior runner, plus he’s a running back in a stellar and deep RB class, so most teams at the top of the draft can wait until the beginning of round two.

8) CHICAGO BEARS, MINKAH FITZPATRICK, FS/CB, ALABAMA

The Bears would be a great landing spot for Nelson if he drops that far. They also need a talent upgrade in the secondary and Fitzpatrick at this point would be a phenomenal pick, as he’d address multiple needs for them with his stellar versatility.

9) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, TREMAINE EDMUNDS, LB, VIRGINIA TECH

The 49ers snatch up Edmunds, the 19-year-old stud who could be considered by Denver at five as well. He fits perfectly in their defense and could be a star for the next 15 years, similar to what Patrick Willis was.

10) OAKLAND RAIDERS, ROQUAN SMITH, LB, GEORGIA

The Raiders linebacking corps is in desperate need of help and Smith could present a massive upgrade. Washington’s big nose tackle, Vita Vea, would be another consideration.

11) MIAMI DOLPHINS, LAMAR JACKSON, QB, LOUISVILLE

Jackson seems like he’s destined to surprise people by going pretty high in the first round. Miami’s shown some interest in the athletic QB, and though they’ve been coy so far about whether or not they want to stick with Ryan Tannehill, Jackson would be a great pick if the top two linebackers and Nelson are gone.

12) CLEVELAND BROWNS (FROM BUF), DENZEL WARD, CB, OHIO STATE

-BSN Mock projected trade (see above)-

The Browns still get one of their three targets at the fourth pick in Ward, who’d be a huge upgrade to their corners. Ward’s man-cover skills would allow them to be more aggressive up front, as well.

13) WASHINGTON REDSKINS, DERWIN JAMES, DB, FLORIDA STATE

James could go as high as seven to the Bucs, or he could drop a bit to the Skins pick. Vea would be another potential candidate here, but James simply presents too much value. A cornerback would also be in play, but with Ward gone, James, who’s also a valuable cover man in the slot, makes too much sense.

14) GREEN BAY PACKERS, MARCUS DAVENPORT, EDGE, UTSA

The Packers are interested in adding more pass rush, and Davenport’s raw skill set fits nicely as a standup edge in their scheme. They also need more cornerback help, and Colorado’s Isaiah Oliver would make a lot of sense given their inclination for Pac-12 prospects in the past.

15) ARIZONA CARDINALS, MASON RUDOLPH, QB, OKLAHOMA STATE

There you have it, six quarterbacks in the top 15 picks. It seems like a lot, but given the lack of depth past the first six, Rudolph will probably go higher than expected. Arizona is in desperate need for a QB of the future to catch up to the rest of the division, and while it’s a reach, Rudolph has intriguing upside.

16) BALTIMORE RAVENS, RASHAAN EVANS, LB, ALABAMA

The Ravens have always had a thing for Alabama prospects and could use more help at all linebacker spots outside of C.J. Mosley—another Bama product. Evans can play inside, but he can also rush the passer, addressing two immediate need areas for Baltimore who desperately needs to restore their defense to their usual high standards.

17) LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, VITA VEA, DT, WASHINGTON

Vea’s fall ends here, where he’d upgrade the Chargers defense up the middle and turn their front four into one of the scariest units in the NFL.

18) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, ISAIAH OLIVER, CB, COLORADO

The Seahawks need to replenish their talent level on the back end. Oliver fits their press scheme perfectly with the size, ample ball skills, and speed to quickly make them forget Richard Sherman. LSU running back Derrius Guice could be a surprise pick here too, as could more help on the O-line.

19) DALLAS COWBOYS, TAVEN BRYAN, DL, FLORIDA

The Cowboys are sitting pretty here with multiple quality front-seven prospects remaining. They could go with an edge rusher like Harold Landry or a backer like Leighton Vander Esch, but instead, they opt for Bryan, who has massive upside as an interior pass rusher.

20) DETROIT LIONS, HAROLD LANDRY, EDGE, BOSTON COLLEGE

The Lions biggest need is a pass rusher opposite defensive end Ziggy Ansah, and Landry presents great value at this point. The BC phenom had a splendid season back in 2016 but fell off a bit in 2017. Opposite the big Ansah, he’d be perfect as an outside speed rusher.

21) CINCINNATI BENGALS (FROM BUF), JAMES DANIELS, OC, IOWA

The Bengals traded down from 12 to 21 to add a much-needed tackle in Cordy Glenn, now their O-line could use an upgrade on the interior. Daniels fits perfectly and is amongst the most athletic center prospects you’ll ever see, he gets to the second level at will and could be huge in getting Cincy’s offense back on track.

22) CLEVELAND BROWNS (FROM BUF), CONNOR WILLIAMS, OT/G, TEXAS

-BSN Mock projected trade (see above)-

This is the second pick the Browns received from Buffalo in our projected trade, and they find Williams, who would be a perfect heir to Joe Thomas. Williams isn’t as big as Thomas but has the athleticism to fit the direction the Browns are going on offense.

23) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (FROM LAR), LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH, LB, BOISE STATE

The Patriots acquired this pick after trading receiver Brandin Cooks and they have several holes to fill. Linebacker isn’t their biggest need, but the athletically-gifted Vander Esch would fit nicely and could be a Jamie Collins-type chess piece in their scheme.

24) CAROLINA PANTHERS, WILL HERNANDEZ, OG, UTEP

Hernandez to Carolina feels like a perfect culture fit as he’s a mauling, nasty interior lineman. He’d replace Andrew Norwell, who left for a big pay raise to the Jaguars, to perfection.

25) TENNESSEE TITANS, SAM HUBBARD, EDGE, OHIO STATE

The Titans must upgrade their pass rush and need to add talent on the interior and exterior of their defensive front. Hubbard has a great motor and good athleticism to get after the passer with regularity in Tennessee.

26) ATLANTA FALCONS, DA’RON PAYNE, DT, ALABAMA

The Falcons are lucky to have Payne drop to them, as their biggest need is at defensive tackle and Payne was the last one worthy of a first-round selection. He’s a tough-minded lineman with some deceptive mobility as well.

27) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, DALLAS GOEDERT, TE, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

The Saints are still searching for an upgrade at tight end, and with Goedert, they finally find a complete player who could be a tough matchup in the passing game. Due to injuries during the draft process and his small school status, Goedert could go anywhere from the late first to the third round, but his tape is impressive, and the Saints would be smart to snatch him up.

28) PITTSBURGH STEELERS, RONNIE HARRISON, SS, ALABAMA

The Steelers will be hoping one of the top four interior linebackers drops to them, but if they have to settle on a safety—which is another need on their defense—Harrison isn’t a bad consolation prize.

29) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, CALVIN RIDLEY, WR, ALABAMA

The Jaguars could go with an offensive tackle here, but Ridley is tough to pass up. The smooth route runner would be an added weapon to the Jags’ offense as they try to contend again this year.

30) MINNESOTA VIKINGS, JAIRE ALEXANDER, CB, LOUISVILLE

The Vikings man scheme requires high-level cornerbacks, and with Terrance Newman getting up in age and a few high picks at the position not panning out, going back to the well would be a good idea. Alexander is a phenomenal corner who only drops due to an injury-riddled 2017 season; he’d be a steal at this point.

31) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, KOLTON MILLER, OT, UCLA

Miller or Mike McGlinchey seem like easy bets to go to the Patriots if they stay put at this pick—which is never a guarantee since they love trading down. Miller’s very similar to Nate Solder in that he’s athletic and a bit raw coming out of college, but given his potential in pass protection, he’s the pick for the Patriots.

32) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, MIKE HUGHES, CB, UCF

The Eagles pick is another potential trade-down spot, as they need to add more picks and their GM Howie Roseman is a master negotiator who always seems to find a deal. If they stay put, an offensive tackle of the future is possible, as is an upgrade at cornerback like Hughes. The UCF product fits nicely in their scheme with his speed and feisty nature. He’s also a talented returner.

ROUND 2

33) Cleveland Browns, Derrius Guice, RB, LSU  Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

34) New York Giants, Sony Michel, RB, Georgia

35) Cleveland Browns (FROM HOU), Uchenna Nwosu, OLB/EDGE, USC

36) Indianapolis Colts, Lorenzo Carter, OLB/EDGE, Georgia

37) Indianapolis Colts (FROM NYJ), Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

38) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

39) Chicago Bears, Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

40) Denver Broncos, Ronald Jones II, RB, USC

41) Oakland Raiders, Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn

42) Miami Dolphins, Malik Jefferson, OLB, Texas

43)  New England Patriots (FROM SF), Mark Andrews, WR/TE, Oklahoma

44) Washington Redskins, Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

45) Green Bay Packers, Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

46) Cincinnati Bengals, D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

47) Arizona Cardinals, Billy Price, OC/G, Ohio State

48) Los Angeles Chargers, Fred Warner, OLB, Brigham Young

49) Indianapolis Colts (FROM NYJ – THROUGH SEA), Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State

50) Dallas Cowboys, Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

51) Detroit Lions, Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State

52) Baltimore Ravens, James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State

53) Buffalo Bills, Brian O’Neil, OT, Pittsburgh

54) Kansas City Chiefs, Arden Key, EDGE, LSU

55) Carolina Panthers, Rasheem Green, DT, USC

56) Buffalo Bills (FROM LAR), D.J. Chark, WR/KR, LSU

57) Tennessee Titans, Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State

58) Atlanta Falcons, Jerome Baker, WLB, Ohio State

59) San Francisco 49ers (FROM NO), Braden Smith, OG, Auburn

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

61) Jacksonville Jaguars, Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

62) Minnesota Vikings, Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon

63) New England Patriots, Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis

64) Cleveland Browns (FROM PHI), Justin Reid, S, Stanford

ROUND 3

65) Buffalo Bills (FROM CLE), Jessie Bates, FS, Wake Forest

66) New York Giants, Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond

67) Indianapolis Colts, Jordan Lasley, WR, UCLA

68) Houston Texans, Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina

69) New York Giants (FROM TB), Donte Jackson, CB, LSU

70) San Francisco 49ers (FROM CHI), Nick Nelson, CB, Wisconsin

71) Denver Broncos, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB/EDGE, Oklahoma

72) New York Jets, Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan

73) Miami Dolphins, Frank Ragnow, OC, Arkansas

74) San Francisco 49ers, Austin Corbett, OT/C, Nevada

75) Oakland Raiders, Tim Settle, NT, Virginia Tech

76) Green Bay Packers, Hercules Mata’afa, EDGE, Washington State

77) Cincinnati Bengals, Mike McCray, OLB, Michigan

78) Kansas City Chiefs (FROM WSH), Marcus Allen, FS, Penn State

79) Arizona Cardinals, Levi Wallace, CB, Alabama

80) Houston Texans (FROM SEA), Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State

81) Dallas Cowboys, Josh Sweat, EDGE, Florida State

82) Detroit Lions, Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

83) Baltimore Ravens, Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

84) Los Angeles Chargers, Will Richardson, RT, NC State

85) Carolina Panthers (FROM BUF), Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State

86) Kansas City Chiefs, Anthony Averett, CB, Alabama

87) Los Angeles Rams, Mason Cole, OC, Michigan

88) Carolina Panthers, Simmie Cobbs Jr., WR, Indiana

89) Tennessee Titans, Harrison Phillips, DL, Stanford

90) Atlanta Falcons, Mark Walton, RB, Miami

91) New Orleans Saints, Jeff Holland, EDGE, Auburn

92) Pittsburgh Steelers, Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State

93) Jacksonville Jaguars, Genard Avery, ILB, Memphis

94) Minnesota Vikings, Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech

95)  New England Patriots, Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford

96) Buffalo Bills (FROM PHI), Oren Burks, ILB, Vanderbilt

97) Arizona Cardinals (COMP), Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame

98) Houston Texans (COMP), Justin Jones, DT, North Carolina State

99) Denver Broncos (COMP), Andrew Brown, DE, Virginia

100) Cincinnati Bengals (COMP), Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State