Where do the Broncos turn?
The NFL’s legal tampering period began Monday, a window that gives every team a jump on Wednesday’s official start of free agency. But there is no room for rest on the league’s calendar. After teams address their needs in free agency — or attempt to, at least — attention will turn toward the 2018 NFL draft, which runs from April 26 to 28 in Arlington, Texas.
This mock draft was constructed with the help of film review, conversations at the NFL combine, a review of the performances in Indianapolis and a study of the various needs of every NFL team. There will almost certainly be trades come draft day, but we won’t incorporate any theoretical deals for now. To view the remaining 27 projected first-round picks, visit DenverPost.com/sports. Let the games begin. 1. Cleveland Browns, Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State After trading for quarterback Tyrod Taylor last week, Cleveland doesn’t need to kick off the draft by taking a QB. They can save that business for their fourth overall pick — or even wait until later in the draft. That leaves the Browns free to select the draft’s best overall prospect, one who just so happens to also fill a big need for a team that went 0-16 last season. 2. New York Giants,
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The Giants are searching for their successor to Eli Manning, and they’ll probably be asking that player to sit on the bench during his rookie season. This could be an ideal scenario for Allen, who has the biggest arm in the draft but, with only two seasons as a starter in the Mountain West under his belt, could benefit from a developmental year. 3. Indianapolis Colts, Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State Chubb aspires to be a mix between Khalil Mack and Von Miller, and he just may have the motor to become that theoretically terrifying pass rusher. That’s simply not a prospect the Colts could pass up after finishing 31st in the NFL last season with just 25 sacks. 4. Cleveland Browns,
Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Darnold could land at No. 2, but getting him here would be a huge coup for Cleveland as it begins the uphill climb of resurrecting its longsagging offense. The trade for Tyrod Taylor is likely to mean Darnold would begin his career as a backup, which may not be a bad thing for a quarterback who doesn’t turn 21 until June. 5. Denver Broncos,
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma Even with Case Keenum set to become the Broncos’ next starting quarterback, don’t be surprised if the Broncos invest further into the quarterback position. John Elway appeared to dismiss one of the biggest concerns surrounding Mayfield — an on-field swagger that borders on cockiness and led the QB to cross lines, at times, in college — at the NFL scouting combine. Mock Draft: Check out The Denver Post’s complete mock draft online. » denverpost.com/broncos