Denver Broncos general manager John Elway was thrilled with his team’s 2018 NFL draft class. But did league analysts agree with his glowing assessment?
Below is a breakdown of how 10 prominent media organizations graded the team’s 10 additions, its largest draft haul since 1999, with analysis from each.
THE PICKS
1 (5) Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
2 (40) Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
3 (71) Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon
3 (99) Isaac Yiadom, CB, Boston College
4 (106) Josey Jewell, LB, Iowa
4 (113) DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
5 (156) Troy Fumagalli, TE, Wisconsin
6 (183) Sam Jones, G, Arizona State
6 (217) Keishawn Bierria, LB, Washington
7 (226) David Williams, RB, Arkansas
THE GRADES
Mel Kiper, ESPN
Grade: B+
“We thought Denver might take a quarterback at No. 5, but with Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold off the board, they went best player available. Bradley Chubb is the best pass-rusher in this class by far. He’s not a perfect fit for Denver’s 3-4, but you have to find a way to get him on the field next to Von Miller. He’s too talented. … There’s a lot of value in this class, and Elway & Co. deserve credit for taking the best player available in spots while also filling needs.”
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
Grade: B+
“They landed the best edge rusher in the draft by taking Bradley Chubb with the fifth pick in the first round. He will be an immediate force off the edge opposite Von Miller. I wasn’t as high as some on second-round receiver Courtland Sutton, but I do like the pick of fourth-round receiver DaeSean Hamilton. He runs great routes. I also liked the pick of fourth round of Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell. He will be a special-teams force right away. ”
Chad Reuter, NFL.com
Grade: A
“Chubb was the best value on the board for this team. Putting him and Von Miller on the same defense makes them dangerous again, like when DeMarcus Ware and Miller were doing their thing. Case Keenum‘s two-year deal took QB out of the equation here, and Paxton Lynch still has an opportunity to grow into a starter.”
Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus
Grade: Average
“Bradley Chubb is one of the draft’s best all-around players and he’ll continue to the pipeline of productive edge rushers in Denver. He’s outstanding in the run game, playing with good leverage and technique and as a pass-rusher, he attacks offensive tackles with a full array of moves.”
Nate Davis, USA Today
Grade: A
“GM John Elway must be living right with a gift like pass rusher Bradley Chubb sitting there at No. 5. He could restore this defense to dominance. Third-round RB Royce Freeman could make Broncos Country forget C.J. Anderson, and second-round WR Courtland Sutton may eventually do the same to Demaryius Thomas. Elway appeared to find a lot of potential contributors in the middle rounds. And given how well QB Case Keenum has apparently fit into this locker room, probably wise for Elway to resist the urge to draft another quarterback.”
Ian Wharton, Bleacher Report
Grade: A
“The Denver Broncos had arguably the best draft haul in the league. Few expected defensive end Bradley Chubb to fall to No. 5, giving the Broncos an elite pass-rush rotation of Von Miller, Chubb, Shaquil Barrett and Shane Ray. Although it may have made sense to add a quarterback, the staff has entrusted Case Keenum to compete for a Super Bowl, and spending a premier pick on a backup quarterback wouldn’t have helped the team this year. … Only the right guard position remains a question mark entering training camp.”
Andy Benoit, Sports Illustrated
Grade: A-
“John Elway understands what a perplexingly large number of fans and media do not: Denver’s Super Bowl window is still open. This defense is not much different than the one that brought home a Lombardi Trophy in 2015, especially now that Bradley Chubb is filling the void left by DeMarcus Ware. With Chubb joining Von Miller, Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett, Denver has four dynamic, flexible pass rushers, whom you’ll see all on the field together in certain passing situations.”
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports
Grade: A
“The Broncos had a pretty easy pick when Bradley Chubb fell to them at No. 5. Home-run pick. The draft might turn, good or bad, on whether size-speed receiver Courtland Sutton develops into a No. 1 receiver out of the second round. That could happen. … Just because the Broncos drafted a lot of big names doesn’t mean they’re good picks, but the Broncos got plenty of players who we know can play well on a high level. This group should be ready to contribute immediately.”
Dan Kadar, SB Nation
Grade: B+
“Getting Bradley Chubb and to go along with Von Miller sets Denver up with one of the best pass rush pairs in the NFL. It was a surprise that Chubb was still available at fifth overall. He’s a player who is just as good against the run as he is rushing the passer. Maybe more importantly, he can keep some double teams off Miller. … The knock on this draft class is that the offensive line wasn’t really addressed.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
Grade: A
“John Elway resisted the urge to move down or go for a quarterback, and it paid off with a stellar draft. Chubb was a steal to pair with Von Miller, and they still got their offensive help for Case Keenum with Sutton, Freeman and Fumagalli. Sutton and Hamilton also give them present support and future alternatives to Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Yiadom can be groomed as an Aqib Tailb replacement, and they unearthed a 3-4 tackling gem in Jewell. Denver’s needs were met, and nothing close to a reach was made.”
