2018 Broncos Draft Picks

The 2018 NFL Draft is over, and the Broncos are receiving high marks around the league for their overall selections during the three days of the draft. A lot can be made about what transpired. I felt all offseason that I wanted the Broncos to go after a QB in the first round of this draft. The Broncos did not ultimately do that. Did they get better with the projections of some of the guys that they got in the draft? Yes, they did. Getting Bradley Chubb at #5 was too good to pass up. They got good value in a lot of rounds, and there is a lot excitement about some of the new players selected during the three days of the draft. I think the Broncos will have to address their long-term QB future next offseason. It is too early to tell if they made a mistake by not trading up to #2 with the Giants or #3 with the Colts (before the Jets did). They might regret passing on Josh Rosen or Josh Allen at #5. Only time will tell. The Case Keenum era is here in Denver for 2018 and the Broncos draft picks will be asked to help get this team back to the playoffs once again. Here is the 2018 Broncos rookie class....

Round 1 (#5 overall): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State: Chubb was considered the best defensive player in the draft and he was considered one of the top two players in the entire draft. To get him to fall to five was a surprise (Thanks Cleveland!) and the Broncos were wise to scoop him up. I wanted a QB this year in the first round, but I'll settle with Chubb to go with Von Miller, Shaq Barrett, Derek Wolfe, and Shane Ray. Chubb could help take this Broncos defense back to the level they were in 2015 when they won Super Bowl 50.

Round 2 (#40 overall) Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU: Sutton was a guy that a lot of draft experts had going in the first round, so to see him fall to the second round was interesting, and the Broncos grabbed him. He is big and tall, and I thought the Broncos needed to address the WR position to bolster the group.

Round 3 (#71 overall) Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon: I have to be honest, I wasn't all that familiar with Freeman, but a lot of draft experts like this pick in this spot. He has the most rushing TDs in Pac-12 history, and many believe he might actually start by the time the regular season rolls around.

Round 3 (#99 overall) Isaac Yiadom, CB, Boston College: The Broncos needed another cornerback in this draft. They need depth at that spot, and they got a guy who they coached at the Senior Bowl. If he can get into the top 4

Round 4 (#106 overall) Josey Jewell, ILB, Iowa: The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year falls to the 4th round and a lot of Broncos fans were excited to snag him. He had visited Denver a few weeks ago, and he looks like that tackling machine that the Broncos desperately need from the ILB spot.

Round 4 (#113 overall) DeaSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State: Another receiver fell to the Broncos. This time it is Hamilton in the 4th round. Again, the Broncos need depth at WR and Hamilton will be one of the guys to try and fill in for the departed Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer.

Round 5 (#156 overall) Troy Fumagalli, TE, Wisconsin: I like this pick a lot. I have seen Fumagalli play a lot over the past few years, and I thought this pick has some great value. I think Fumagalli can get into the TE rotation with Jake Butt and Jeff Heuerman early on this year.

Round 6 (#183 overall) Sam Jones, OG, Arizona State: The Broncos needed depth at guard. They are going with Connor McGovern or Max Garcia at one of the guard spots, so another one this late in the draft makes sense.

Round 6 (#217 overall) Keishawn Bierria, LB, Washington: Bierria will be asked to come in and play special teams. If he can do that, then he has a very good chance to make the final 53 man roster.

Round 7 (#226 overall) David Williams, RB, Arkansas: The Broncos took a chance on the big, bruising back late in the draft. He could be practice squad bound, but if he gets on special teams, then that will help his chances to make the team.

What Should Denver Do at #5 on Draft Night? Get the QB

The NFL Draft is only two days away and the Broncos are picking #5. There has been much speculation in the last two days about who Denver might take in that spot. Will it be a QB? Will they take the best player available if not a QB? Will they trade up or trade down? There is so much rumor and innuendo out there that it is hard to decipher what is real and what isn't. I have and will continue to think that you HAVE to take a QB high if you need one and you are picking this high in the draft. I don't care that the Broncos signed Case Keenum this offseason to be the starter. I firmly believe that the Broncos need to draft a QB in the first round this year and try to set the franchise up with a long-term, young, QB for the next 10-12 years. This team desperately needs it. The question then becomes who do you take? Well, my personal preference would be Baker Mayfield. It sounds like he will not go past the Jets at #3. My next preference is Sam Darnold, but it looks more and more like he will be the #1 pick, and he won't get past #3 if he falls as well. Josh Rosen is rumored to fall, and I would have no problem picking him at #5 if he is available. I think he would do very well in Denver even with Case Keenum named the starter for this upcoming year. At this point, I wouldn't even mind getting Josh Allen. I think the comparisons to Paxton Lynch don't add up. I would take Allen at #5 if the other three are all gone, trade Paxton Lynch away for a conditional late round pick during the draft weekend, and let Allen sit behind Keenum for a year. What I'm not okay with is the Broncos picking another player at #5 or even trading down and letting another team come up to #5 for a potential franchise QB. If I were John Elway, I would be trying to get to #2 and trade with the Giants to ensure I get the QB I want. Don't worry about all the other draft picks you have to give up. Let's be honest, John Elway's track record the last four years in the draft hasn't been that good anyway. Be bold and be decisive and go get that QB. Don't let it slip through your hands. The Broncos don't want to be picking in the top 5 again anytime soon, and if they screw this up on draft night and walk out of there without a QB, then they will be picking in the top 5 on an annual basis. Elway was a "Once in a generation" quarterback who put a franchise on his back. He should know the importance of that position and get one for our future.

2018 NFL Mock Draft

#1) Cleveland Browns select Sam Darnold QB, USC

#2) New York Giants select Bradley Chubb DE, NC State

#3) New York Jets select Baker Mayfield QB, Oklahoma

#4) Cleveland Browns select Saquon Barkley RB, Penn State

#5) *TRADE* Denver Broncos trade with the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo gets the Broncos #5 overall pick. Denver gets the Bills 1st round pick (#12 overall) and (#22 overall) as well as 2nd Round pick (#53 overall) and their 3rd round pick (#96 overall)

Buffalo Bills select Josh Allen QB, Wyoming

#6) *TRADE* Indianapolis Colts trade with Miami Dolphins. Dolphins get the Colts #6 overall pick. Indy gets Miami's 1st round pick (#11 overall) and their 2nd round pick (#42 overall).

Miami Dolphins select Josh Rosen QB, UCLA

#7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Denzel Ward CB, Ohio State

#8) Chicago Bears select Quenton Nelson G, Notre Dame

#9) San Francisco 49ers select Roquan Smith LB, Georgia

#10) Oakland Raiders select Minkah Fitzpatrick S, Alabama

#11) Indianapolis Colts select Vita Vea DT, Washington

#12) Denver Broncos select Tremaine Edwards OLB, Virginia Tech

#13) Washington Redskins select Derrius Guice RB, LSU

#14) Green Bay Packers select Harold Landry OLB, Boston College

#15) Arizona Cardinals select Calvin Ridley WR, Alabama

#16) *TRADE* Baltimore Ravens trade with New England Patriots. Patriots get the Ravens #16 overall pick. Baltimore gets the Patriots 1st round pick (#23 overall) and their 3rd round pick (#95 overall)

New England Patriots select Hayden Hurst TE, South Carolina

#17) Los Angeles Chargers select Derwin James S, Florida State

#18) Seattle Seahawks select Marcus Davenport DE/OLB, UTSA

#19) Dallas Cowboys select Courtland Sutton WR, SMU

#20) Detroit Lions select James Daniels C, Iowa

#21) Cincinnati Bengals select Matt McGlinchey T, Notre Dame

#22) Denver Broncos select Will Hernandez G, UTEP

#23) Baltimore Ravens select D.J. Clark WR, LSU

#24) Carolina Panthers select Jaire Alexanxder CB, Louisville

#25) Tennessee Titans select Rashaan Evans LB, Alabama

#26) Atlanta Falcons select Da'Ron Payne, DT Alabama

#27) New Orleans Saints select Lamar Jackson QB, Louisville

#28) Pittsburgh Steelers select Mike Hughes CB, UCF

#29) Jacksonville Jaguars select Josh Jackson CB, Iowa

#30) Minnesota Vikings select Taven Bryan DT, Florida

#31) New England Patriots select Kolton Miller T, UCLA

#32) Philadelphia Eagles select Sony Michel RB, Georgia

2018 Denver Broncos Schedule

Here is a look at the 2018 Denver Broncos schedule with a little analysis from my part at the end....

Week 1 (Sunday 9/9/18) vs. Seattle-4:25pm EST (FOX)

Week 2 (Sunday 9/16/18) vs. Oakland-4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 3 (Sunday 9/23/18) at Baltimore-1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 4 (Monday 10/1/18) vs. Kansas City-8:15pm EST (ESPN)

Week 5 (Sunday 10/7/18) at NY Jets-1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 6 (Sunday 10/14/18) vs. LA Rams-4:05pm EST (FOX)

Week 7 (Thursday 10/18/18) at Arizona-8:20pm EST (FOX)

Week 8 (Sunday 10/28/18) at Kansas City-1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 9 (Sunday 11/4/18) vs. Houston-4:05pm EST (CBS)

Week 10 BYE WEEK

Week 11 (Sunday 11/18/18) at LA Chargers-4:05pm EST (CBS)

Week 12 (Sunday 11/25/18) vs. Pittsburgh-4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 13 (Sunday 12/2/18) at Cincinnati-1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 14 (Sunday 12/9/18) at San Francisco-4:05pm EST (CBS)

Week 15 (Saturday 12/15/18) vs. Cleveland-4:30pm or 8:30pm EST (NFL Network)

Week 16 (Monday 12/24/18) at Oakland-8:15pm EST (ESPN)

Week 17 (Sunday 12/30/18) vs. LA Chargers-4:25pm EST (CBS)

Analysis:
-I love that the Broncos open at home the first two weeks. Denver has opened at home every year since 2010, and I thought this year, they would be on the road for Week 1, but the Seahawks pay a visit to start the year. Great game, and I love the late afternoon window for Week 1.

-3 out of 4 at home to start the year gives us a chance to get off to a good start. I like hosting KC on a Monday night too. The crowd should be ready for that one.

-Tough three game stretch where the Broncos host the Rams, then travel to Arizona on a short week for a TNF game, then head to KC for an early start the next Sunday. That will be a very telling slate of games in the first part of the year.

-I like that the bye week is in Week 10. Seems like a perfect spot for the week off.

-Another tough stretch from Weeks 11-14. A tough road game at the Chargers, followed by a home game against the Steelers, then back-to-back road games at Cincy and at SF. That will be a very interesting set of games to deal with.

-I like the end of the year with Cleveland, at Oakland, and hosting the Chargers in Week 17. This will be fifth straight year the Broncos end the season at home.

-Three primetime games is not too bad for a team that finished 5-11 last year.

-I love the Saturday game in Week 15 against the Browns. That could be at 4:30pm or moved to 8:30pm depending on the records of the teams. I love the Saturday games in December, and I'm looking forward to that one.

-I absolutely hate the Monday night game on Christmas Eve. All of the games that week are on Sunday 12/23, but there is one MNF game on Christmas Eve and it happens to be the Broncos-Raiders. That is absolute worst night for me to watch a game, and I'm so pissed the NFL put that game on there.

-Overall, it is a pretty fair schedule. No three game road trips, two back-to-back road trips, one back-to-back homestand, open with three out of four at home, and close with two out of three at home. The TNF trip is not too bad to Arizona, and it gives them 10 days to prepare for KC the next week.

Broncos Release C.J. Anderson

The Broncos have released RB C.J. Anderson in a move that surprised no one. Anderson was due to make $4.5 million this season. The Broncos are looking to go younger at that position and will probably add a RB or two in the draft next week. Although it wasn't a surprise, it was sad to see C.J. go. He was one of the leaders on this team, and he will always be remembered for his gutsy runs and performances in the Broncos Super Bowl run in 2015. He scored some big TDs and had some big runs in those victories over the Steelers, Patriots, and Panthers. His 1 yard TD run against the Panthers clinched Super Bowl 50 for the Broncos, and he will forever be remembered for his five years in Denver. Thanks for the memories C.J!

NFL Draft Cheat Sheet-Offensive Position Rankings

Here is the 2018 NFL Draft Cheat Sheet. I'll start with the offensive position rankings and it is a great way to kind of sort through players as they get picked in the draft. Here we go with the offense:

QB
1) Sam Darnold- USC
2) Josh Rosen- UCLA
3) Baker Mayfield- Oklahoma
4) Josh Allen- Wyoming
5) Mason Rudolph- Oklahoma State
5) Lamar Jackson- Louisville

RB
1) Saquon Barkley-Penn State
2) Derris Guice- LSU
3) Sony Michel- Georgia
4) Nick Chubb- Georgia
5) Kerryon Johnson- Auburn
6) Ronald Jones- USC
7) Rashad Penny- San Diego State
8) Kalen Ballage- Arizona State
9) Nyheim Hines- NC State
10) Jaylen Samuels- NC State

WR
1) Calvin Ridley- Alabama
2) Courtland Sutton- SMU
3) D.J. Moore- Maryland
4) Christian Kirk- Texas A&M
5) D.J. Clark- LSU
6) Equanimeous St. Brown- Notre Dame
7) Auden Tate- Florida State
8) Anthony Miller- Memphis
9) Simmie Cobbs- Indiana
10) James Washington- Oklahoma State
11) Michael Gallup- Colorado State
12) Keke Coutee- Texas Tech
13) Daesean Hamilton- Penn State
14) Dante Pettis- Washington
15) Marcel Ateman- Oklahoma State

TE
1) Hayden Hurst- South Carolina
2) Mark Andrews- Oklahoma
3) Dallas Goedert- South Dakota State
4) Mike Gesicki- Penn State
5) Dalton Schultz- Stanford
6) Jordan Aikens- UCF
7) Durham Smythe- Notre Dame
8) Troy Fumagali- Wisconsin
9) Chris Herndon- Miami
10) Will Dissly- Washington

OT
1) Mike McGlinchey- Notre Dame
2) Orlando Brown- Oklahoma
3) Isaiah Wynn- Georgia
4) Kolton Miller- UCLA
5) Connor Williams- Texas
6) Martinas Rankin- Miss State
7) Geron Christian- Louisville
8) Brian O'Neill- Pittsburgh
9) Austin Corbett-Nevada
10) Jamarco Jones- Ohio State

G
1) Quenton Nelson- Notre Dame
2) Billy Price- Ohio State
3) Will Hernandez- UTEP
4) Braden Smith- Auburn
5) Frank Ragnow-Arkansas
6) Scott Quessenberry-UCLA
7) Sean Welsh-Iowa
8) Skyler Phillips- Idaho State
9) Colby Gossett-Appalachian State
10) Wyatt Teller- Va Tech

C
1) James Daniels- Iowa
2) Austin Corbett-TCU
3) Tony Adams- NC State
4) Mason Cole- Michigan
5) Will Clapp- LSU

NFL Draft Cheat Sheet-Defensive Position Rankings

We already provided the cheat sheet for the offensive players, so now let's turn to the defensive player rankings for the 2018 NFL Draft.....

DE
1) Bradley Chubb- NC State
2) Marcus Davenport- Texas-San Antonio
3) Sam Hubbard:- Ohio State
4) Arden Key-LSU
5) Duke Ejiofor-Wake Forest
6) Harold Landry- Boston College
7) Da'Shawn Hand-Alabama
8) Dorance Armstrong- Kansas
9) Rasheem Green-USC
10) Breeland Speaks-Ole Miss

DT
1) Vita Vea-Washington
2) Da'Ron Payne-Alabama
3) Taven Bryan-Florida
4) Tim Settle-Va Tech
5) R.J. McIntosh-Miami
6) Trenton Thompson-Georgia
7) Harrison Phillips-Stanford
8) Maurice Hurst-Michigan
9) B.J. Hill-NC State

OLB
1) Tremaine Edwards-Va Tech
2) Roquan Smith-Georgia
3) Darius Leonard-South Carolina State
4) Lorenzo Carter-Georgia
5) Uchenna Nwosu-USC
6) Jerome Baker-Ohio State
7) Jeff Holland-Auburn
8) Skai Moore-South Carolina
9) James Hearns-Louisville
10) Ogbonnia Okoronkwo-Oklahoma

ILB
1) Rashaan Evans-Alabama
2) Leighton Vander Esch-Boise State
3) Malik Jefferson-Texas
4) Oren Burks-Vanderbilt
5) Josey Jewell-Iowa
6) Tegray Scales-Indiana
7) Tre Williams-Auburn
8) Shaun Hamilton-Alabama
9) Micah Kiser-Virginia
10) Nick DeLuca-North Dakota State

CB
1) Denzel Ward-Ohio State
2) Josh Jackson-Iowa
3) Mike Hughes-UCF
4) Carlton Davis-Auburn
5) Donte Jackson-LSU
6) Isaiah Oliver-Colorado
7) Jaire Alexander-Louisville
8) J.C. Jackson-Maryland
9) Nick Nelson-Wisconsin
10) Anthony Averett-Alabama
11) Duke Dawson-Florida
12) M.J. Stewart-UNC
13) Kevin Toliver-LSU
14) Christian Campbell-Penn State
15) Kameron Kelly-San Diego State

S
1) Minkah Fitzpatrick-Alabama
2) Derwin James-FSU
3) Ronnie Harrison-Alabama
4) Justin Reid-Stanford
5) Terrell Edmunds-Va Tech
6) Jessie Bates-Wake Forest
7) DeShon Elliot-Texas
8) Jordan Whitehead-Pitt
9) Kyzir White-West Va
10) Armani Watts-Texas A&M

Broncos Mock Schedule-2018

Here is my annual mock schedule for the Broncos for the 2018 season. The real schedule should be out this week, so here is my stab at what I think the Broncos could potentially see on their docket this upcoming year. Enjoy!

Week 1 Sunday 9/9/18 @NY Jets-1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 2 Sunday 9/16/18 Los Angeles Rams-4:25pm EST (FOX)

Week 3 Sunday 9/23/18 @ Oakland- 4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 4 Thursday 9/27/18 Los Angeles Chargers-8:20pm EST (FOX)

Week 5 Sunday 10/7/18 @ Baltimore-1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 6 Sunday 10/14/18 Houston-4:25pm-EST (CBS)

Week 7 Sunday 10/21/18  Cleveland-4:05pm EST (CBS)

Week 8 Sunday 10/28/18 @San Francisco- 4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 9 BYE WEEK

Week 10 Sunday 11/11/18 Pittsburgh-8:30pm EST (NBC)

Week 11 Sunday 11/18/18 @ Kansas City-4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 12 Monday 11/26/18 Oakland-8:30pm EST (ESPN)

Week 13 Sunday 12/2/18 @ Cincinnati-1:00pm EST (CBS)

Week 14 Sunday 12/9/18 Seattle-4:25pm EST (FOX)

Week 15 Sunday 12/16/18 @Arizona-4:25pm EST (CBS)

Week 16 Saturday 12/23/18 Kansas City-8:00pm EST (NFL Network)

Week 17 Sunday 12/30/18 @ Los Angeles Chargers-4:25pm EST (CBS)

Broncos Sign Punter Marquette King

Although he may act like a clown at times, there is no denying that Marquette King is a very good punter, and after being released by the Raiders last week, the Broncos swooped in and signed the punter to a three year deal. This definitely is an upgrade over Riley Dixon, and it will be interesting to see how well King does in Denver's thin air. We can maybe deal with some of the antics as long as he punts well, and at least he is an upgrade in that category.