Denver Broncos 2018 NFL mock draft roundup: Rosen and Darnold mocked to the Broncos

Each week, I will round up all the mock drafts around the internet and Twitter and show you who the draft experts and analysts see the Denver Broncos taking in the first(and second and third is available) rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft.

I’ll include their reasoning and add in a few opinions myself here and there. So let’s see who the experts and analysts have the Broncos taking in the 2018 NFL Draft!

Pro Football Focus: 5. Josh Rosen, UCLA

PFF’s Steve Palazzolo’s thoughts:

Pro Football Focus

With the quarterback position still an issue for the Broncos, Denver turns to Rosen, who is excellent throwing to the intermediate level and has the zip and touch to attack defenses down the field. He posted the best grade of his career in 2017, finishing at 85.8, though he’s been consistent year-to-year, as he graded at 84.5 in 2015 as a sophomore and 84.9 in 2014 as a freshman. Rosen has some boom-or-bust to his game, but if he can cut down on the poor decisions, he as the talent to become a long-time starter.

My thoughts:

Rosen is my top quarterback in the draft and I would be elated if he were to fall to the Broncos here.

Yes, he has some personality to him but you know what? So did John Elway. The fact is that the guy can play. He has been consistent, a good mid-field passer with an arm to make every throw and shows intelligence on the field. He does have some flaws, but he’s the most “pro-ready” quarterback in the draft in my opinion.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: 5. Sam Darnold, Quarterback, USC

Kiper’s thoughts:

*Sam Darnold, QB, USC

Denver sits in a pivotal spot in the draft. Will it take the third quarterback? Could it move down? There will be a ripple effect in the top 10. Either way, it looks like the Broncos are ready to move on from 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch. Darnold had an up-and-down season and struggled with turnovers -- his 22 were tied for most in the FBS. Can he figure out the ball security? If he can get rid of the bad habits, he could be a special player. Darnold is an accurate, natural passer with high upside who still needs to tweak his mechanics. I believe in his talent long term, and I think John Elway would love to have him in Denver.

My thoughts:

In Kiper’s mock, he has Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen going number one overall to the Cleveland Browns in what would be the most Cleveland Browns move ever. Anyways, this means that one of Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen would likely fall to number 5 overall to the Broncos.

In this scenario, Kiper has Rosen going to the Giants at the second pick while USC’s Sam Darnold falls to the Broncos.

I like Darnold, but I do not think he will be ready to start day one and may need a year before hitting the field. Keep in mind, he is still a young man only at 20 years old. If he were to start week one, he would be the youngest starting quarterback to ever start a game by like 4 months. I am not sure that is the direction the Broncos would go unless they believe he can overcome his youth and inexperience obstacle.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah: 5. Quenton Nelson, Guard, Notre Dame

Jeremiah’s thoughts:

I think the Broncos will address their quarterback need in free agency, which would free them up to take the best available player in this spot. Nelson is the best interior O-line prospect to enter the draft in a long time.

My thoughts: In this mock, Jeremiah notes he thinks the Broncos get a quarterback via Free Agency(Cousins) and will go with arguably the best player in the entire draft with Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson.

He is a monster in the run game as well as a damn good pass blocker and one of the better guard prospects in a long time. Talent wise, he’s very much worth the Broncos fifth-overall pick. He may be an All-Pro player his rookie year and be a cornerstone for the Broncos offensive line for years to come. However, is a guard really worth the fifth-overall pick? The positional value for that position isn’t as high as some others, so there will be some question to whether or not he goes that high.

If the Broncos get Kirk Cousins, I’d be all for getting a guard to replace Max Garcia. It would still leave a hole at RT, but you are getting one of, if not the best player in the draft.

CBS Sports’s Chris Trapasso: 5. Sanquon Barkley, Running Back, Penn State

Trapasso’s thoughts:

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State. Surprise pick of the top 10. In this scenario, John Elway finds a veteran quarterback in free agency or via trade, as he doesn’t want to roll the dice on another rookie quarterback two years after he seemingly whiffed on Paxton Lynch. Barkley can be a versatile workhorse right away.

My thoughts:

If the Broncos can get Kirk Cousins, I will be pulling hard for the Broncos to draft Sanquon Barkley. That would give the Broncos a major upgrade in their backfield. A quarterback who has ranked near the top in some key areas the last three years and an instant impact runner who can do it all.

Now I get that you can find backs pretty much anywhere, but if you have a chance to get the best, why not? Barkley is legit and if the Broncos do not need a quarterback, I hope he is high on their wish list.

SB Nation’s Dan Kadar: Josh Allen, Quarterback, Wyoming

Kadar’s thoughts:

5. Denver Broncos: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

The Broncos will get an up close and personal look at both Allen and Mayfield this week at the Senior Bowl. A setting like the Senior Bowl should make Allen look like a star. Because of that, he gets the nod for now.

My thoughts:

I’m not a fan of Allen, but a good week at the Senior Bowl could put him in the conversation for the fifth pick, or even the first overall pick in the draft.

Allen is a big guy, excellent arm strength, and mobile. The three things Broncos General Manager values in quarterbacks and a reason why Allen to the Broncos has been a popular pick. However, he is coming off a bad year and has a sub-60% completion percentage and history tells you that doesn’t lead to success.

They will get a chance to see him at the Senior Bowl starting this afternoon so we shall see where this goes going forward.