NFL Draft 2018: Quenton Nelson will have best career of any 2018 prospect
Choosing between a plethora of top talent is a tough task for teams like the Broncos and Colts deciding to go with Quenton Nelson, Saquon Barkley, etc.
There’s a clear top six players in the 2018 NFL Draft class, with half of them falling under the category of just a single position. A strong class of quarterbacks in Wyoming Cowboys Josh Allen, UCLA Bruins Josh Rosen, and USC Trojans Sam Darnold, takes up three of the top six slots on draft boards.
The other three spots fall to the Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley, NC State Wolfpack defensive end Bradley Chubb, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive guard Quenton Nelson.
You could consider other prospects like Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield, Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Florida State Seminoles safety Derwin James, at the top of this class too. But, Chubb, Barkley, and Nelson have definitely earned their right to call themselves some of the six best overall prospects.
Individual NFL teams’ draft needs can blur the lines between raw talent and proven body of work for certain players compared to pure hype and fit with a few teams drafting early in the first round. A player like UTSA Roadrunners defensive end Marcus Davenport falls into this category due to his rapid rise only because of his standout performance at the Reese’s Senior Bowl earlier this year.
Yet, the focus here stays with Nelson, and this Notre Dame class of alumni. Nelson, and potential first round pick offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, are both highly anticipated prospects that suited up in a Notre Dame football uniform last year.
They led the way for ground game stars like quarterback Brandon Wimbush and running back Josh Adams. Considering Nelson and McGlinchey were able to make Adams an attractive draft prospect himself, it reflects well on their ability to make everybody around them better.
Truly talented and proven offensive lineman are becoming harder and harder to come by now, especially at the guard position. Nelson was the top rated guard in the 2017 NFL Draft, if he had declared early to end his college career. However, he continued to polish his skills, and get his degree, which shows his smarts and awareness.
NFL teams drafting in the top 10 should be jumping at the chance to land a player like Nelson. He’s got the talent of a lineman that can be an immediate anchor to any struggling group. The Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and Chicago Bears are all teams to watch in the pursuit of Nelson come draft time.
His pure talent level, combined with his versatility in being effective in both run and pass blocking, puts Nelson head and shoulders above his competition. The rest of this guard class does not measure up to his ability either.
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This is a rare opportunity to nab a game changer along the offensive line, without having to sacrifice a No. 1 overall pick. Even with a strong class of players this time around, Nelson should still be considered the best player in this class altogether, as he’s very likely to put together one of the best NFL career of every prospect here.