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With the 2018 NFL Draft in the books, it is only fair to dish out some awards for a job well done by a number of teams across the NFL. It also doesn’t hurt to look at which teams may have made regrettable picks.
Pass along your thoughts on these awards and the 2018 NFL Draft. I may put together a mail bag that answers questions/comments sent via email [email protected] or on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Best Draft Class:
Denver BroncosThe Broncos were well positioned to come away from 2018 with an excellent draft class and did just that. There is no doubt that it can be easier for a team to have a highly impactful draft class when selecting early in each round. Denver had that advantage, along with extra mid-round picks. General manager John Elway made the most of those advantages and put together a phenomenal draft class.
In the first round, Elway landed a good value with one of the top-three players in the 2018 NFL Draft at the fifth-overall selection. N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb is a dynamic edge defender with strength, quickness and athleticism. Chubb will benefit from rushing across from Von Miller, and they could form an elite pass-rushing tandem. I think Elway also was wise to take Chubb over Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, because defensive ends have a bigger impact than guards, plus Chubb could be the Broncos’ defensive franchise player. He was the right pick and an excellent one in Round 1.
On Day 2, the Broncos upped the talent level on their offense. Elway started it off by selecting SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton, and that set the tone for the Broncos to really build up the talent on their roster in the 2018 draft. Many around the league felt that Sutton would be a pick in the back half of the first round, so landing him in Round 2 was superb value for Denver. He gives the Broncos a talented trio at wide receiver, and before long, he could be the Broncos’ No. 1 receiver once Demaryius Thomas ages out of town.
Early in the third round, Elway took another upgrade to the Broncos’ offense in running back Royce Freeman. The thick power back had an excellent career at Oregon, showing off the ability to be a bell-cow back and possessing three-down starting potential for the NFL. In the thin air at Mile High, Freeman could be a force running over worn-down defenses in the second halves of games. Freeman was underrated in a strong class of running backs and could easily be a steal for Denver.
Later in the third, Denver picked up some cornerback depth in Boston College’s Isaac Yiadom. That was the only pick of the Broncos who I wasn’t a fan of, as there were better cornerbacks available, like Wisconsin’s Nick Nelson.
On Day 3, however, Elway continued to get good value for his selections. Fourth-round pick Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell could be a solid inside linebacker and he could have gone in the third. Ditto for Penn State wide receiver Daesean Hamilton. Hamilton was a steal in the fourth round, as he could be a very good slot receiver with his crisp route-running and solid hands. Taking Wisconsin tight end Troy Fumagalli was nice value in the fifth-round pick, as he gives the Broncos more receiving talent at tight end than they’ve had since Julius Thomas left in free agency.
Overall, I think Denver is going to get between 4-6 quality starters out of this draft class. Not just average players, but good players, with Chubb and Sutton having Pro Bowl potential. This was a phenomenal draft class from Denver, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it helps get the Broncos back into the postseason in the next few years. Of all the winners I’ve elected below, every team has made it to the playoffs within two years of that draft class. The only exception is last year’s winner, but they could easily be in the playoffs this year. I think Denver is well positioned to return to playoff contention after this superb draft from Elway and his scouting staff.
Honorable mentions: Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons.
2017 Winner: Washington Redskins
2016 Winner: Buffalo Bills
2015 Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars
2014 Winner: Houston Texans
2013 Winner: Green Bay Packers
2012 Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers
Once again, pass along your thoughts on these awards and the 2018 NFL Draft. I may together a mail bag that answers questions/comments sent via email [email protected] or on Twitter @draftcampbell.
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