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Ranking the best prospects at each position in the 2018 NFL Draft

Andre Simone Avatar
April 25, 2018
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In our last position rankings, we graded every position group in the 2018 NFL Draft. After ranking the top-200 prospects in the entire draft in our final big board update, we’re also updating each position group with a brief description.

You’ll still find the grades for each position as well, plus a link for our full breakdown of each of the Denver Broncos need areas in the descriptions below.

Let’s dig in.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Grade: B+

This is a really deep quarterback class at the top, with six potential selections in the first round—which would match John Elway’s historic 1983 draft. For that to happen, there will admittedly have to be a few reaches, which could very easily occur, given that the depth of this class after the top six is quite poor.

We graded every trait for the top six QBs here and previewed the class here.

1. Sam Darnold, QB, USC

2. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

4. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

5. Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

6. Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

7. Logan Woodside, QB, Toledo

8. Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond

9. Chase Litton, QB, Marshall

10. Mike White, QB, Western Kentucky

Names to know:

Luke Falk, QB, Washington State

Kurt Benkert, QB, Virginia

Riley Ferguson, QB, Memphis

J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State

Nic Shimonek, QB, Texas Tech

RUNNING BACKS

Grade: A

It might not be at the level of the 2017 class of running backs, which was truly special, but it’s really not that far off. The top four feel like good bets to go in the top 40 picks, while the top seven seem like safe bets to go in the second round or higher.

The depth here is off the charts as well, as there are 20 RBs in our top 200.

We previewed the class here.

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

2. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

3. Ronald Jones II, RB, USC

4. Sony Michel, RB, Georgia

5. Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State

6. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

7. Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

8. Mark Walton, RB, Miami 

9. Josh Adams, RB, Notre Dame

10. Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State

Names to know:

Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa

Nyheim Hines, RB/KR, North Carolina State

Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama

John Kelly, RB, Tennessee

Ito Smith, RB, Southern Mississippi

WIDE RECEIVERS

Grade: C

We were spoiled the past few years with some really spectacular wideout groups; not so much this year. The issue is primarily at the top, where there aren’t any clear-cut future No. 1 NFL receivers. That really knocks the class.

There are, however, several future starters who could make their mark and have some enticing upside. Everyone in the top 10 profiles to go in the top three rounds, and given the thirst for receivers in the NFL, some are bound to get overdrafted.

We previewed the best options for the Broncos here.

1. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

2. D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

3. James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State

4. Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

5. Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

6. D.J. Chark, WR/KR, LSU

7. Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis

8. Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State

9. Simmie Cobbs Jr., WR, Indiana

10. Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame

Names to know:

Jordan Lasley, WR, UCLA

Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa State

Tre’Quan Smith, WR, UCF

Deon Cain, WR, Clemson

Dante Pettis, WR, Washington

TIGHT ENDS

Grade: D+

This tight end group is one of the weakest of the entire draft and was really hurt by some early entries a year ago—which was a spectacular class at the position.

At the top, only Goedert is worthy of a top-50 selection, and the depth of the class is dreadful, which is why the grade is so low. However, the top five at the position are promising and could be turned into average starters at some point in their careers.

We previewed the best options for the Broncos at TE here, focusing specifically on those top five guys. Thomas and Akins are intriguing in the bottom half of our rankings and impressed at the Senior Bowl. They could be underrated gems in a really shallow group.

1. Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State

2. Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina

3. Jaylen Samuels, H-back, North Carolina State

4. Mark Andrews, WR/TE, Oklahoma

5. Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State

6. Troy Fumagalli, TE, Wisconsin

7. Ian Thomas, TE, Indiana

8. Jordan Akins, TE, UCF

9. Tyler Conklin, TE, Central Michigan

10. Dalton Schultz, TE, Stanford

Names to know:

Christopher Herndon IV, TE, Miami

Will Dissly, TE, Washington

Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame

Marcus Baugh, TE, Ohio State

Jordan Thomas, TE, Mississippi State

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

Grade: C

This is another underwhelming class, though the depth isn’t bad. There are just lots of knocks on the top guys, who are almost guaranteed to be over-drafted. Williams is the most intriguing here, as he might be undervalued after a down year where he was affected by injuries.

After the top four, the depth is nice, with 14 OTs ranked in our top 200.

We previewed the position here.

1. Connor Williams, OT, Texas

2. Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

3. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

4. Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

5. Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon

6. Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State

7. Desmond Harrison, OT, West Georgia

8. Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State

9. Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan

10. Brian O’Neil, OT, Pittsburgh

Names to know:

Will Richardson, RT, NC State

Geron Christian, OT, Louisville 

Joseph Noteboom, OT, TCU

Greg Senat, RT, Wagner

Dalton Risner, RT, Kansas State

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

Grade: A-

This is a really extraordinary class with six potential first-round picks. Everyone in top 10 has the talent to become a starter in the pros, and 15 are ranked in our top 200, most of which in the top 150.

Check out our preview of the best options at the position for the Broncos here.

1. Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

2. James Daniels, OC, Iowa

3. Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

4. Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

5. Billy Price, OC/G, Ohio State

6. Frank Ragnow, OC/G, Arkansas

7. Braden Smith, OG, Auburn

8. Austin Corbett, OT/C, Nevada

9. Colby Gossett, OG, Appalachian State

10. Wyatt Teller, OG, Virginia Tech

Names to know:

Mason Cole, OT/C, Michigan

Bradley Bozeman, OC, Alabama

Coleman Shelton, OC, Washington

K.C. McDermott, OT/G, Miami

Sean Welsh, OG, Iowa

DEFENSE

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE

Grade: B+

This is a fun class with lots of depth, with 21 prospects in our top 200. It’s not spectacular at the top, as everyone has some minor question marks. The group falls off a bit after the first four, which is why the grade isn’t higher here.

This is the only position group with the safeties that we didn’t preview, as it doesn’t feel like a pressing need for Denver. However, if the Broncos were to trade down, both Vea and Bryan might be intriguing picks.

Taking advantage of the depth of the class in the later rounds would be wise.

1. Vita Vea, DT, Washington

2. Taven Bryan, DL, Florida

3. Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

4. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

5. Tim Settle, NT, Virginia Tech

6. Harrison Phillips, DL, Stanford

7. Rasheem Green, DL, USC

8. Justin Jones, DT, North Carolina State

9. Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State 

10. Andrew Brown, DL, Virginia

Names to know:

Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State

Trenton Thompson, DT, Georgia

Lowell Lotulelei, DT, Utah

Kentavius Street, DL, North Carolina State

Jalyn Holmes, DE, Ohio State

EDGE RUSHERS

Grade: B

The depth here is outstanding with 25 edge rushers in our top 200. Given how the Broncos are trying to add depth to the position, this would be a group to tap into, even if they wait until day three.

For a premium position, there’s a lot of uncertainty, as too many of the edge rushers are gambles on upside rather than sure-fire contributors early in their NFL careers.

We previewed the class here.

1. Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State

2. Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

3. Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

4. Arden Key, EDGE, LSU

5. Sam Hubbard, EDGE, Ohio State

6. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB/EDGE, Oklahoma

7. Lorenzo Carter, EDGE, Georgia

8. Hercules Mata’afa, EDGE, Washington State

9. Jeff Holland, EDGE, Auburn

10. Josh Sweat, EDGE, Florida State

Names to know:

Dorance Armstrong Jr., EDGE, Kansas

Trevon Young, EDGE, Louisville

Breeland Speaks, DE, Ole Miss

Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State

Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, EDGE, Toledo

Duke Ejiofor, DE, Wake Forest

OFF-BALL LINEBACKERS

Grade: A-

Man, are the positions in the front seven of this draft deep, as the linebackers account for another 21 prospects in our top 200. The top four are really talented, too, and should be taken in the first round, while the top seven or so are bound to go in the first two rounds.

When you combine talent at the top like that and have that type of depth, it makes for a pretty special class.

The Broncos sound very interested in upgrading their interior linebacking core and adding athleticism to the position. This group is bound to have lots of options for Denver to do so; we previewed the class here.

1. Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

2. Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

3. Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

4. Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

5. Matthew Thomas, LB, Florida State

6. Uchenna Nwosu, OLB, USC

7. Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas

8. Genard Avery, ILB, Memphis

9. Fred Warner, LB, Brigham Young

10. Mike McCray, LB, Michigan

Names to know:

Jerome Baker, WLB, Ohio State

Dorian O’Daniel, LB, Clemson

Shaquem Griffin, WLB, UCF

Josey Jewell, ILB, Iowa

Skai Moore, WLB, South Carolina

CORNERBACKS

Grade: A+

This is the headliner class of the 2018 draft, with tons of talent at the top and lots of depth. It’s been interesting to see the shift in college football, as a few years ago the college ranks were producing tons of receivers, now the corners have been the richer position, which is a natural counter to handling all those wideouts.

The depth here is real, with 23 players in our top 200 and the top seven should all warrant picks in the top 50. There are lots of immediate starters and plenty of potential subpackage players to be had.

Simply put, if you take a cornerback in this year’s draft, regardless of what round you do so, you’re bound to be happy with the selection.

Here’s our preview of the class, with the best options for the Broncos.

1. Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

2. Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado

3. Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

4. Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

5. Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

6. Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn

7. Donte Jackson, CB, LSU

8. Nick Nelson, CB, Wisconsin

9. Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State

10. Levi Wallace, CB, Alabama

Names to know:

Anthony Averett, CB, Alabama

Holton Hill, CB, Texas

Deatrick Nichols Jr., CB, South Florida

Kevin Tolliver II, CB, LSU

M.J. Stewart, CB, North Carolina

SAFETIES

Grade: C+

Some feel this class of safeties is even better than the cornerbacks, that seems rich to me. The nice thing about this group is that there are lots of versatile safeties. The type of versatility that should really appeal to the NFL, with kids who can play in the box or even be shifted out to cover the slot. Finding defenders who can do both is at a real premium in today’s NFL.

The one knock is that there isn’t great depth, and outside of the top two, there aren’t too many elite talents who are guaranteed to be starters on a play-by-play basis.

The Broncos already have a versatile safety in Justin Simmons and just added another in Su’a Cravens, which is why we didn’t preview the class, but it’s an intriguing group.

1. Derwin James, DB, Florida State

2. Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS/CB, Alabama

3. Ronnie Harrison, SS, Alabama

4. Jessie Bates, FS, Wake Forest

5. Justin Reid, S, Stanford

6. Marcus Allen, FS, Penn State

7. Kyzir White, S, West Virginia

8. Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech

9. DeShon Elliott, S, Texas

10. Dane Cruikshank, S, Arizona

Names to know:

Quin Blanding, FS, Virginia

Armani Watts, FS, Texas A&M

Van Smith, S, Clemson

Godwin Igwebuike, FS, Northwestern

Jordan Whitehead, FS, Pittsburgh

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