Reasons to draft Quenton Nelson

[broncos SB2010]

Both Cecil Lammey and Benjamin Allbright are saying that Quenton Nelson is 100% in the mix at #5. Actually, Allbright thinks Nelson will be the pick if Elway can't trade down. Great news.

Albright also tweeted this:


Informal survey of current and former NFL scouts and Front Office types:

"All things being equal, who is the best player in this draft?"

Bradley Chubb was overwhelmingly the favorite. Got over 75% of the votes.

Quenton Nelson with second most votes.

9:27 AM - 11 Apr 2018

[-Rod-]

Albright also said in those tweets that Chubb isn't a scheme fit. Finally someone agrees with me

I think people worry too much about "scheme fit" when defenses are playing 70% of the snaps in nickel. I remember people surprised by the Chargers taking Joey Bosa because he was not a scheme fit in their 3-4 defense at the time, but that pick worked wonders for them in the 3-4, 4-3, any front.

EDIT: I'm fine with the Broncos taking Nelson over Chubb, though I don't even see Chubb being available at #5.

[broncos SB2010]

I think people worry too much about "scheme fit" when defenses are playing 70% of the snaps in nickel. I remember people surprised by the Chargers taking Joey Bosa because he was not a scheme fit in their 3-4 defense at the time, but that pick worked wonders for them in the 3-4, 4-3, any front.

You make a valid point.

[samparnell]

Both Cecil Lammey and Benjamin Allbright are saying that Quenton Nelson is 100% in the mix at #5. Actually, Allbright thinks Nelson will be the pick if Elway can't trade down. Great news.

If Denver picked Quinton Nelson, he's in the five at G probably. So, the other four would presumably be Bolles LT, Leary LG, Veldheer RT and a tossup between Paradis and McGovern at C.

[MHS]

Albright also tweeted this:


Informal survey of current and former NFL scouts and Front Office types:

"All things being equal, who is the best player in this draft?"

Bradley Chubb was overwhelmingly the favorite. Got over 75% of the votes.

Quenton Nelson with second most votes.

9:27 AM - 11 Apr 2018

I really hope Chubbs or Mayfield are available at 5 (looking highly unlikely) but Nelson would be a hell of a backup plan if no viable trade down scenarios materialize.

[Ear2dastreets]

I really hope Chubbs or Mayfield are available at 5 (looking highly unlikely) but Nelson would be a hell of a backup plan if no viable trade down scenarios materialize.

Thing is that's just someone's opinion on what they "THINK" elway will do at 5. I for one still highly doubt he goes in top 5....probably more 7-9.

[armedequation]

If Denver picked Quinton Nelson, he's in the five at G probably. So, the other four would presumably be Bolles LT, Leary LG, Veldheer RT and a tossup between Paradis and McGovern at C.

I would really like that line

[-Rod-]

If Denver picked Quinton Nelson, he's in the five at G probably. So, the other four would presumably be Bolles LT, Leary LG, Veldheer RT and a tossup between Paradis and McGovern at C.

There will be many benefits if Elway drafts Nelson. He can be cross-trained at guard/tackle just like McGovern has been at guard/center. Veldheer struggled on the right side because he's been a left tackle for many years. Also, he comes with injury concerns. I'd rather have Nelson as an emergency tackle than Watson, for example. He moves well and is technically sound, so I can see Nelson as a starting guard and swing tackle.

Leary also has some injury concerns and, with the current lineup, we are one injury away from seeing Garcia as a starter again. That's worrisome. Nelson would add a potential Pro Bowler or even All-Pro at guard and improve depth with McGovern as the backup guard/center. Also, if Garcia falls to the 4th guard spot, he might get some looks at center which seemed to be his best position in college.

We really need to establish the running game to help Keenum, who won in Minnesota with that offense managing his throws and investing in the running plays. Nelson is unbelievable as a run blocker and he plays with the attitude, mean streak that Elway tried to add with Bolles.

Remember how Bill Musgrave used 6 offensive linemen to beat the hell out of Wade Phillips defense in 2016? We can do that with Nelson, making McGoven line up at TE to form our jumbo package. That would be nasty against smaller defenses or against any defense in the second half when players get tired.

Nelson would really be a great pick. Elway and Joseph are saying we can't miss with this pick. Well, it does not get much safer than adding the best offensive lineman in the draft and the best guard prospect since who knows when.

[gerontion]

Both Cecil Lammey and Benjamin Allbright are saying that Quenton Nelson is 100% in the mix at #5. Actually, Allbright thinks Nelson will be the pick if Elway can't trade down. Great news.

I certainly wouldn't mind it. However, if Rosen is there at #5, I'd rather take him.

[JayJack]

There will be many benefits if Elway drafts Nelson. He can be cross-trained at guard/tackle just like McGovern has been at guard/center. Veldheer struggled on the right side because he's been a left tackle for many years. Also, he comes with injury concerns. I'd rather have Nelson as an emergency tackle than Watson, for example. He moves well and is technically sound, so I can see Nelson as a starting guard and swing tackle.

Leary also has some injury concerns and, with the current lineup, we are one injury away from seeing Garcia as a starter again. That's worrisome. Nelson would add a potential Pro Bowler or even All-Pro at guard and improve depth with McGovern as the backup guard/center. Also, if Garcia falls to the 4th guard spot, he might get some looks at center which seemed to be his best position in college.

We really need to establish the running game to help Keenum, who won in Minnesota with that offense managing his throws and investing in the running plays. Nelson is unbelievable as a run blocker and he plays with the attitude, mean streak that Elway tried to add with Bolles.

Remember how Bill Musgrave used 6 offensive linemen to beat the hell out of Wade Phillips defense in 2016? We can do that with Nelson, making McGoven line up at TE to form our jumbo package. That would be nasty against smaller defenses or against any defense in the second half when players get tired.

Nelson would really be a great pick. Elway and Joseph are saying we can't miss with this pick. Well, it does not get much safer than adding the best offensive lineman in the draft and the best guard prospect since who knows when.

So, if Nelson is gone by 5th pick, would you consider drafting Mike McGlinchey at 5?

[the0rangecrush]

There will be many benefits if Elway drafts Nelson. He can be cross-trained at guard/tackle just like McGovern has been at guard/center. Veldheer struggled on the right side because he's been a left tackle for many years. Also, he comes with injury concerns. I'd rather have Nelson as an emergency tackle than Watson, for example. He moves well and is technically sound, so I can see Nelson as a starting guard and swing tackle.

Leary also has some injury concerns and, with the current lineup, we are one injury away from seeing Garcia as a starter again. That's worrisome. Nelson would add a potential Pro Bowler or even All-Pro at guard and improve depth with McGovern as the backup guard/center. Also, if Garcia falls to the 4th guard spot, he might get some looks at center which seemed to be his best position in college.

We really need to establish the running game to help Keenum, who won in Minnesota with that offense managing his throws and investing in the running plays. Nelson is unbelievable as a run blocker and he plays with the attitude, mean streak that Elway tried to add with Bolles.

Remember how Bill Musgrave used 6 offensive linemen to beat the hell out of Wade Phillips defense in 2016? We can do that with Nelson, making McGoven line up at TE to form our jumbo package. That would be nasty against smaller defenses or against any defense in the second half when players get tired.

Nelson would really be a great pick. Elway and Joseph are saying we can't miss with this pick. Well, it does not get much safer than adding the best offensive lineman in the draft and the best guard prospect since who knows when.

It is quite interesting that the only two lineman we've officially visited with are Daniels(a center) and Rankins(who there was speculation his best position might be center). Nelson would immediately fill a big hole with elite dat 1 potential. Perhaps adding another guy like Billy Price would help as well. Like you said if needed Nelson could flex out to RT, and Price could plug into OG, as well as provide insurance at center.

[the0rangecrush]

So, if Nelson is gone by 5th pick, would you consider drafting Mike McGlinchey at 5?

Do you think 3 QBs and Nelson are gone, or 2 QBs Nelson and Chubb?

[samparnell]

There will be many benefits if Elway drafts Nelson. He can be cross-trained at guard/tackle just like McGovern has been at guard/center. Veldheer struggled on the right side because he's been a left tackle for many years. Also, he comes with injury concerns. I'd rather have Nelson as an emergency tackle than Watson, for example. He moves well and is technically sound, so I can see Nelson as a starting guard and swing tackle.

Leary also has some injury concerns and, with the current lineup, we are one injury away from seeing Garcia as a starter again. That's worrisome. Nelson would add a potential Pro Bowler or even All-Pro at guard and improve depth with McGovern as the backup guard/center. Also, if Garcia falls to the 4th guard spot, he might get some looks at center which seemed to be his best position in college.

We really need to establish the running game to help Keenum, who won in Minnesota with that offense managing his throws and investing in the running plays. Nelson is unbelievable as a run blocker and he plays with the attitude, mean streak that Elway tried to add with Bolles.

Remember how Bill Musgrave used 6 offensive linemen to beat the hell out of Wade Phillips defense in 2016? We can do that with Nelson, making McGovern line up at TE to form our jumbo package. That would be nasty against smaller defenses or against any defense in the second half when players get tired.

Nelson would really be a great pick. Elway and Joseph are saying we can't miss with this pick. Well, it does not get much safer than adding the best offensive lineman in the draft and the best guard prospect since who knows when.

Menelik Watson is unreliable and has never been available for an entire season. If not for his injury, he would have been released, and may still be. He is not starting material and would be dead weight occupying a roster spot that could go to a more promising player. With Watson on the roster, Denver would need nine O-Linemen. With Watson active on game day, Denver would need eight OL active. Since he's just about always on IR, might as well put him on IR, ... or release him.

I agree that Quinton Nelson could probably play RT in a pinch. Billy Turner and Cyrus Kouandijo played well at RT last year (Turner 46 snaps against the Giants, Kouandijo 65 snaps against the Chiefs) and can provide depth. Turner is a G/T having played T in college. The big question is depth at LT. If for the sake of discussion the five are Bolles-Leary-McGovern-Nelson-Veldheer, the best backup LT is Veldheer. If seven OL are active on game day, the backups are an inside guy and an outside guy. In this hypothetical scenario, that might be Paradis and Turner; or, it could be Dielman and Turner with Turner providing depth at G and RT.

IMO Max Garcia is on the bubble to make the roster. As a G he is consistently beat off the LOS in pass protection. He's good as a run blocker, but sometimes misses on pulls. Paradis hasn't helped him with some line calls which have made Max look bad, like being asked to reach a 1 tech on a run play to the right. I agree that his best spot might be Center. If the coaches want to help him, that's where he should practice. That could create a log jam with four Centers, but each guy needs to find his best spot. If Connor McGovern joined Bolles, Leary, Nelson and Veldheer as one of the five, he'd be at Center.

Besides Watson and Garcia whose jobs may be in jeopardy, Denver has four other O-Linemen who came into the league via the Draft: Cyrus Kouandijo (2014 #44); Billy Turner (2014 #67); Jeremiah Poutasi (2015 #66); and, J.J. Dielman (2017 # 176) In the scenario where Quinton Nelson is Denver's choice at #5, these four guys are legitimate contenders to make the roster for depth.

An O-Line of Bolles-Leary-McGovern-Nelson-Veldheer could generate a heck of a rushing attack without adding a sixth linemen in the way Musgrave did at Oakland. With that starting five if he added a sixth guy, it would cause major adjustments on the part of the opposing D.

Identify and start the best five O-Linemen shuffling them to their best spots. If one of the five can't go, bring in number six and reshuffle, if necessary.

There is no doubt in my mind that Quinton Nelson is one of the five best players in this year's draft pool. I'm sure Denver will get a great player at #5. If that turns out to be Quinton Nelson, he is a day one starter. I'm not sure that would be true of other top five guys Denver will have the opportunity to pick. Quinton Nelson would fix Denver's O-Line. The only loose end might be a long term solution for a starting RT. For this year, however, the O-Line would be 100% better than last year.

[-Rod-]

So, if Nelson is gone by 5th pick, would you consider drafting Mike McGlinchey at 5?

No, because he would not be the highest rated player on the board. McGlinchey is considered a solid, yet unspectacular tackle. With Nelson, we already know we are getting a special, rare, dominant guard and that's why he fits the best-player-available description.

When I watch this:

I see McGlinchey being owned by Bradley Chubb, which tells me he's not an elite tackle prospect to handle an elite edge prospect. Also, I can't stop noticing how dominant Nelson is snap after snap.

If we don't go with a QB, the consensus top-3 players in this draft are Nelson, Chubb and Barkley. I want one of them and one will 100% be there at #5.

I love Nelson the player, not necessarily the position. I want to come out of the draft with the best players.

[Murph2432]

No, because he would not be the highest rated player on the board. McGlinchey is considered a solid, yet unspectacular tackle. With Nelson, we already know we are getting a special, rare, dominant guard and that's why he fits the best-player-available description.

When I watch this:

I see McGlinchey being owned by Bradley Chubb, which tells me he's not an elite tackle prospect to handle an elite edge prospect. Also, I can't stop noticing how dominant Nelson is snap after snap.

If we don't go with a QB, the consensus top-3 players in this draft are Nelson, Chubb and Barkley. I want one of them and one will 100% be there at #5.

I love Nelson the player, not necessarily the position. I want to come out of the draft with the best players.

While I do agree Chubb beat McGlinchey in this game. It doesn’t mean he won’t be an elite tackle on the next level. If you are judging him off one game with bad weather and not his whole career you shouldn’t be so quick to make a call like that. You act like Joe thomas never had a bad game in college or pro’s and they calling him not an elite prospect because of it.

That being said I don’t think he is an elite talent but I do think he will be a very good Tackle on the next level.