My First (Very early) Mock draft for 2018

[CTM]

I assume we will be picking 5th-8th

1. Lamar Jackson QB. I think we should not take it for granted that our defense will continue to be top-flight. We need playmakers on offense. Jackson has a very good arm to go with electric athleticism. Yes he will not be able to run around NFL defenders like he did in college, but I've seen him make elite level anticipation throws. Check the video below, play at 1:42. And he can still be selectively deadly with his legs. I think if we want to get back to competing for a playoff spot Jackson can get us there the quickest.

2. Jamarco Jones OT. Jones played LT at OSU and I think could play RT for us. We need a big overhaul on the OL.


3. Darius Leonard LB. I think we need to add some competition for the spot next to Marshall. Leonard has very good speed and size and has a great nose for the ball.


4. Wyatt Teller G. Self explanatory. Add some competition to shake up the O line. Good size for an interior O lineman.


5. Jamar Summers S. I think Darian Stewart might be a cut candidate and Parks could be ready to take over for him. If that's the case we should look at adding a depth guy.



With the last two I think we should look at a RB and another O lineman.



Overall the main focus is to get better at QB and O line. On defense we need to add some depth at LB and S. We do have some guys on IR (Butt, Henderson) who will be back that should hopefully add explosiveness at our skill positions which is why I don't see us grabbing a receiver or tight end in this draft.

[SoundsOfSuccess]

Well.. honestly Jackson wouldn't be my QB pick...

We could use a mid round LB though. I like your thinking there

[DenverBlood]

I assume we will be picking 5th-8th

1. Lamar Jackson QB. I think we should not take it for granted that our defense will continue to be top-flight. We need playmakers on offense. Jackson has a very good arm to go with electric athleticism. Yes he will not be able to run around NFL defenders like he did in college, but I've seen him make elite level anticipation throws. Check the video below, play at 1:42. And he can still be selectively deadly with his legs. I think if we want to get back to competing for a playoff spot Jackson can get us there the quickest.

2. Jamarco Jones OT. Jones played LT at OSU and I think could play RT for us. We need a big overhaul on the OL.


3. Darius Leonard LB. I think we need to add some competition for the spot next to Marshall. Leonard has very good speed and size and has a great nose for the ball.


4. Wyatt Teller G. Self explanatory. Add some competition to shake up the O line. Good size for an interior O lineman.


5. Jamar Summers S. I think Darian Stewart might be a cut candidate and Parks could be ready to take over for him. If that's the case we should look at adding a depth guy.



With the last two I think we should look at a RB and another O lineman.



Overall the main focus is to get better at QB and O line. On defense we need to add some depth at LB and S. We do have some guys on IR (Butt, Henderson) who will be back that should hopefully add explosiveness at our skill positions which is why I don't see us grabbing a receiver or tight end in this draft.

Stewart just got a contract extension this past offseason. He isn't going anywhere.

[basbllplaya26]

I assume we will be picking 5th-8th

1. Lamar Jackson QB. I think we should not take it for granted that our defense will continue to be top-flight. We need playmakers on offense. Jackson has a very good arm to go with electric athleticism. Yes he will not be able to run around NFL defenders like he did in college, but I've seen him make elite level anticipation throws. Check the video below, play at 1:42. And he can still be selectively deadly with his legs. I think if we want to get back to competing for a playoff spot Jackson can get us there the quickest.

2. Jamarco Jones OT. Jones played LT at OSU and I think could play RT for us. We need a big overhaul on the OL.


3. Darius Leonard LB. I think we need to add some competition for the spot next to Marshall. Leonard has very good speed and size and has a great nose for the ball.


4. Wyatt Teller G. Self explanatory. Add some competition to shake up the O line. Good size for an interior O lineman.


5. Jamar Summers S. I think Darian Stewart might be a cut candidate and Parks could be ready to take over for him. If that's the case we should look at adding a depth guy.



With the last two I think we should look at a RB and another O lineman.



Overall the main focus is to get better at QB and O line. On defense we need to add some depth at LB and S. We do have some guys on IR (Butt, Henderson) who will be back that should hopefully add explosiveness at our skill positions which is why I don't see us grabbing a receiver or tight end in this draft.

I'd be curious to see what you'd do in FA.. Obviously we can't fill all holes in the Draft alone, but I think we fill 2-3 with FA starters.

I like a QB that can move around in the pocket, and as long as Jackson can improve the footwork and most importantly, stay healthy, I wouldn't mind the pick.

[munoz1987]

I'd bet a years salary on Broncos not taking Lamar Jackson. Broncos are going to go all in on a veteran QB via trade or FA. Elway can't afford to draft another QB. There's no way they trade up to get Rosen or Darnold with CLE & NYG locked in at #1& 2 and need a QB.

[shawinkerpoppin]

My only problem with Lamar Jackson is that he might just as much of a project as lynch is. Now how fast or slow he progresses idk. The question is if he weren’t so athletically gifted would we still take him at pick 5-8? Not at all. I still like him but I don’t think we are in the posistion to draft another project when we have one on the bench already. And before you reference Watson he was a significantly better passer coming out. If we have a legitimate starting QB going into the year then I can get behind Jackson.

[beastlyskronk]

My only problem with Lamar Jackson is that he might just as much of a project as lynch is. Now how fast or slow he progresses idk. The question is if he weren’t so athletically gifted would we still take him at pick 5-8? Not at all. I still like him but I don’t think we are in the posistion to draft another project when we have one on the bench already. And before you reference Watson he was a significantly better passer coming out. If we have a legitimate starting QB going into the year then I can get behind Jackson.

How is he any more of a project than the other QBs? He reads the safeties, looks them off, he throws with touch, he throws with anticipation, and he goes through reads even if they are simplistic. He processes what he’s looking at very quickly too. The slant/swing concept they run requires him to make a decision within 1-3 seconds. That means he’s reading the defense pre snap, validating it, and he usually makes the correct read on the throw. Yes his mechanics are unorthodox due to him having a dominant left leg but they aren’t broken, he’ll need a creative coach to refine it, but more reps are all he needs to perfect it which is why he’s improved every year. His footwork needs work but what college QB doesn’t?

And if Jackson doesn’t work out at QB, he’s a guy that could possibly play WR so you can still get some value out of him. I’m not saying he’s Kordell Stewart because I think he’ll be a very good QB but if we take him I think Vance Joseph is making that call because he played with Stewart and saw what kind of pressure he can put on a defense.

[basbllplaya26]

I'd bet a years salary on Broncos not taking Lamar Jackson. Broncos are going to go all in on a veteran QB via trade or FA. Elway can't afford to draft another QB. There's no way they trade up to get Rosen or Darnold with CLE & NYG locked in at #1& 2 and need a QB.

This...

Imagine if we got Cousins and Connor Williams or another OT/OG with our 5th. Drastically improves our offense off the bat. Elway knows he's better at getting FA's to sign here than drafting at this point.

[kerkhoff1]

Surprised Josey Jewell doesn’t get more talk of potentially being a 3rd round LB for us. I 100% agree we need another LB next to Marshall.

Jewell reminds me of a more athletic, better sized Chris Borland. Plays with a fire, extremely smart, fantastic instincts, and always around the football and making plays. He won’t test off the charts allowing him to be there in the 3rd for us, hoping he’s on our radar.

[Kyousukeneko]

I assume we will be picking 5th-8th

1. Lamar Jackson QB. I think we should not take it for granted that our defense will continue to be top-flight. We need playmakers on offense. Jackson has a very good arm to go with electric athleticism. Yes he will not be able to run around NFL defenders like he did in college, but I've seen him make elite level anticipation throws. Check the video below, play at 1:42. And he can still be selectively deadly with his legs. I think if we want to get back to competing for a playoff spot Jackson can get us there the quickest.

2. Jamarco Jones OT. Jones played LT at OSU and I think could play RT for us. We need a big overhaul on the OL.


3. Darius Leonard LB. I think we need to add some competition for the spot next to Marshall. Leonard has very good speed and size and has a great nose for the ball.


4. Wyatt Teller G. Self explanatory. Add some competition to shake up the O line. Good size for an interior O lineman.


5. Jamar Summers S. I think Darian Stewart might be a cut candidate and Parks could be ready to take over for him. If that's the case we should look at adding a depth guy.



With the last two I think we should look at a RB and another O lineman.



Overall the main focus is to get better at QB and O line. On defense we need to add some depth at LB and S. We do have some guys on IR (Butt, Henderson) who will be back that should hopefully add explosiveness at our skill positions which is why I don't see us grabbing a receiver or tight end in this draft.

jackson would be my 4th to 5th pick at QB in the draft.

i like the position i think we could get away with a a later rounder LB not much later

we also have a 4th and 5th via trade, from this year.

[JvDub95]

How is he any more of a project than the other QBs? He reads the safeties, looks them off, he throws with touch, he throws with anticipation, and he goes through reads even if they are simplistic. He processes what he’s looking at very quickly too. The slant/swing concept they run requires him to make a decision within 1-3 seconds. That means he’s reading the defense pre snap, validating it, and he usually makes the correct read on the throw. Yes his mechanics are unorthodox due to him having a dominant left leg but they aren’t broken, he’ll need a creative coach to refine it, but more reps are all he needs to perfect it which is why he’s improved every year. His footwork needs work but what college QB doesn’t?

And if Jackson doesn’t work out at QB, he’s a guy that could possibly play WR so you can still get some value out of him. I’m not saying he’s Kordell Stewart because I think he’ll be a very good QB but if we take him I think Vance Joseph is making that call because he played with Stewart and saw what kind of pressure he can put on a defense.

I understand drafting any QB is a gamble in the draft but why draft a QB if you have in the back of your head "incase he it doesn't work he can play...." If a team is drafting top 10, possibly top 5 and they go after QB they are drafting a QB to be long term franchise material. Imo, any and all running QB's should be off the board.

[JvDub95]

Surprised Josey Jewell doesn’t get more talk of potentially being a 3rd round LB for us. I 100% agree we need another LB next to Marshall.

Jewell reminds me of a more athletic, better sized Chris Borland. Plays with a fire, extremely smart, fantastic instincts, and always around the football and making plays. He won’t test off the charts allowing him to be there in the 3rd for us, hoping he’s on our radar.

Well, I'm a big Hawkeye fan and I would love this pick. I don't care if it was a 2nd round pick, this guy would be worth it. He is very instinctive and anticipates very well. He isn't the fastest but always seems to be in the right spot.

[Kyousukeneko]

josey jewell has the making to be a top notch run defending lb in the nfl. but does he have th speed to cover TE and RB out of the back field. i am not sure he fits what we need. now if we got rid of marshall he would be my top choice to replace him, but we need fast coverage line backer who is average against the run.

[Butler By'Note]

Stewart just got a contract extension this past offseason. He isn't going anywhere.

Denver saves $1.7 million against the cap if they move on from Stewart ($4.2 million in dead money v $5.9 million if he's on the roster) so it's not a sure thing he's retained. But he's only 29 years old and he was okay during his first two years in Denver. I'd say they'll treat it as a down year and give him the chance to keep his spot next year.

[ksubroncosfan]

Denver saves $1.7 million against the cap if they move on from Stewart ($4.2 million in dead money v $5.9 million if he's on the roster) so it's not a sure thing he's retained. But he's only 29 years old and he was okay during his first two years in Denver. I'd say they'll treat it as a down year and give him the chance to keep his spot next year.

So at that point you’re asking if he’s worth 1.7 million.