2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round through Pro Days
Pick Analysis. Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Quenton Nelson. 5. player. 45. Scouting Report. Offensive Guard
It was a far fall for the Denver Broncos from consistent Super Bowl contender, and even the winner of the big event a few years back, to a bottom team in the AFC. You can thank the play of the lineman and backfield on offense for that result in Denver of late.
A player that could be considered the top overall player in the 2018 NFL Draft, alongside Barkley, is a tremendously athletic offensive guard product of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Quenton Nelson. And, Nelson is not the only big time offensive lineman prospect coming out of South Bend this year.
It’s hard to envision Nelson falling somewhere in the top four, due to the plethora of picks to the Browns (a team stocked at offensive guard) and the need for quarterbacks at the top. Some team in the pick range of 5-10 will get an absolute steal with Nelson.
He’s got a tremendous motor, and an apparent ability to immediately anchor down an offensive line. Guards like this don’t come along every day now, and the Broncos need to protect newfound franchise asset in former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum.