Denver Broncos maintain top five draft status after 8th straight loss

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 2: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners takes the field with teammates before playing the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. OU won 41-17. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 2: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners takes the field with teammates before playing the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. OU won 41-17. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Broncos maintained their top five 2018 NFL Draft standing after their eighth consecutive loss of the season on Sunday…

As the misery of the 2017 season continues for the Denver Broncos, the optimism of the 2018 NFL Draft continues to grow.

The Broncos, ahead of Monday Night Football on ESPN, hold a top five slot in the 2018 NFL Draft. As a matter of fact, they have been fourth in the draft order for the past few weeks, and their current eight game losing streak is a major reason why they are a top contender to be picking in the top five come next Spring.

Among the Broncos’ four remaining games (vs. Jets, @ Colts, @ Redskins, vs. Chiefs), you can’t really make an argument that the Broncos should be favored in a single one.

The Jets, who were considered among the least talented teams in the NFL heading into this season, have exceeded the 0-16 expectations they were given by many, and just won a really hard-fought game against the Kansas City Chiefs 38-31.

Though the Jets at 5-7 only have two more wins this year than the Broncos, they seem to be playing much more inspired football than Denver overall, and are clearly the better team at this point.

The Colts are 3-9 just like the Broncos, but are playing at home and in a toss-up game, that can be the difference.

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The Redskins have been another inconsistent team this year, but capable of winning in tough environments and they’ll get the Broncos at home. That’s a game where they will be favored.

The Chiefs are one of the league’s free-fallers, along with the Broncos, but still have already proven this season to be far better.

Anything can happen on any given Sunday, as they say, but to favor the Broncos in any game would seem overly optimistic at best. It looks like this team is truly heading toward a 3-13 record, perhaps 4-12 at best.

If that’s the case, the Broncos will almost certainly be picking in the top five of the draft, but there will be competition. There are currently eight teams with eight or more losses. There are six teams with nine or more losses.

The Broncos don’t have as clear of a path right now as the Cleveland Browns, who have yet to win a game, but with how their offense has been performing, who are they going to outscore right now?

It seems this team is destined for a top five pick and major offseason changes.