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Mike Mayock mocks guard Quenton Nelson to the Broncos

Mayock has the Broncos taking the big nasty guard from Notre Dame with the 5th overall pick.

By Scotty Payne
USC v Notre Dame Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock released his annual one and only mock draft of the year tonight. Mayock is pretty plugged in and has the Denver Broncos selecting Notre Dame guard, Quenton Nelson with their 5th overall pick.

He is 6’5”, 329lb guard who is considered one of, if not the best overall prospect in the entire 2018 NFL Draft. He would step right in and play at one of the guard spots for the Broncos during his rookie year. He has instant All-Pro/Pro Bowl potential and could be a difference maker for the Broncos offense.

Bolles, Nelson, Paradis, Leary, Veldheer is a pretty damn good offensive line.

He is NFL Network’s Draft analysts Daniel Jeremiah’s 3rd overall player in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Nelson lined up at left guard for the Irish this past season and that is where he projects at the next level. He has a thick, hulking build -- and he’s the nastiest offensive line prospect I’ve ever evaluated. In the run game, he is quick out of his stance and has the ability to completely wash opposing players down the line of scrimmage. He rolls his hips on contact, locks on with a powerful grip and doesn’t let up until he’s finished the job. Nelson is very effective when he works up to the second level on combo blocks and pulls. He can adjust in space and he blocks through the whistle consistently. In pass protection, Nelson possesses an immediate anchor vs. power rushers and effortlessly handles twists and stunts. Overall, Nelson has all of the tools to be the best run blocker in the NFL and he’ll be reliable in pass protection. He’s the easiest player to evaluate in this draft class.

The Broncos top 3 options of Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Bradley Chubb are off the board, so they will consider Quenton Nelson here. However, I see them trading back if this happens and taking UTEP guard Will Hernandez who they reportedly love in the late 1st round. He’s a damn good guard prospect and is a better value than Nelson at 5.

Here is Mike Mayock’s entire first-round mock draft.

Mike Mayock 1st round mock draft

Pick Team Player Position School
Pick Team Player Position School
1 Cleveland Browns Sam Darnold Quarterback USC
2 New York Giants Saquon Barkley Running Back Penn State
3 New York Jets Baker Mayfield Quarterback Oklahoma
4 Cleveland Browns Bradley Chubb Defensive End NC State
5 Denver Broncos Quenton Nelson Guard Notre Dame
6 Buffalo Bills Josh Allen Quarterback Wyoming
7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Derwin James Safety Florida State
8 Chicago Bears Roquan Smith Linebacker Georgia
9 San Fransisco 49ers Denzel Ward Cornerback Ohio State
10 Oakland Raiders Mike McGlinchey Offensive Tackle Notre Dame
11 Miami Dolphins Tremaine Edmunds Linebacker Virginia Tech
12 Indianapolis Colts Minkah Fitzpatrick Safety Alabama
13 Washington Vita Vea Nose Tackle Washington
14 Green Bay Packers Jaire Alexander Cornerback Louisville
15 Arizona Cardinals Josh Rosen Quarterback UCLA
16 Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson Quarterback Louisville
17 Los Angeles Chargers Da'Ron Payne Defensive Tackle Alabama
18 Seattle Seahawks Marcus Davenport Edge Rusher UTSA
19 Dallas Cowboys Cortland Sutton Wide Receiver SMU
20 Detroit Lions Harold Landry Edge Rusher Boston College
21 Cincinnati Bengals Frank Ragnow Center Arkansas
22 Indianapolis Colts Isaiah Wynn Guard Georgia
23 New England Patriots Kolton Miller Offensive Tackle UCLA
24 Carolina Panthers Calvin Ridley Wide Receiver Alabama
25 Tennessee Titans Rashaan Evans Linebacker Alabama
26 Atlanta Falcons Taven Bryan Defensive Tackle Florida
27 New Orleans Saints D.J. Moore Wide Receiver Maryland
28 Pittsburgh Steelers Sony Michel Running Back Georgia
29 Jacksonville Jaguars Hayden Hurst Tight End South Carolina
30 Minnesota Vikings Will Hernandez Guard UTEP
31 New England Patriots James Daniels Center Iowa
32 Philadelphia Eagles Derrius Guice Running Back

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