Denver Broncos did not view Bradley Chubb as a realistic option
The Denver Broncos did not view Bradley Chubb as a realistic option, so they were understandably giddy when he was on the board…
With all of the mock draft scenarios presented prior to the 2018 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos’ front office did not come up with one that included Bradley Chubb falling to the fifth overall pick.
Most expected Chubb to be — at worst – -the fourth pick of the draft to the Cleveland Browns.
The Broncos obviously didn’t feel like Chubb would be there for them, so they were ecstatic when he fell to them.
Here’s a brief snapshot of their reaction:
Elway said that the Broncos felt he was the best player in the 2018 draft class, and they passed up an offer from the Buffalo Bills to move down and pick up two first-round picks at 12 and 22 overall.
That’s how important Chubb is to this Denver Broncos team, and how highly he was valued by them prior to the draft despite not having any meetings with the team outside of a meeting at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine.
And it was after that meeting where the Broncos started having pipe dreams about bringing Chubb into the fold.
According to Albert Breer of MMQB, the Broncos had been dreaming up scenarios involving Chubb since at least February:
"It should be said, too, that the Broncos were over the moon pleased to get Bradley Chubb, as evidenced by the visceral reaction in the war room when Denzel Ward came off the board at 4. As far back as February, Vance Joseph was drawing up ways that he’d use Chubb in tandem with fellow edge rushers Von Miller, Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett. It just never seem realistic that Chubb would get to Denver at 5. Until he did.Albert Breer, MMQB"
Now, those dreams are a reality. Joseph not only gets to dream up ways to use all of these rushers in tandem, he gets to see it unfold on the field.
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The Broncos have one of the best players in team history in Von Miller, two guys in contracts years trying to prove themselves to the Broncos and the rest of the league in Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett, and now the first round pick Chubb, who prides himself on high effort and intensity.
Even if these four are only together for one season, it has the makings of being a really special group for the Broncos.
Many are saying this group could help the Broncos return to 2015 form, and that’s what they’re hoping for.
That 2015 group had 52 sacks in the regular season, a total that dropped all the way to 33 this past season.
The Broncos had to get some help for Von Miller, whether that was from someone in-house, or through the draft.
They did just that by getting a player they had identified as unattainable.
Sometimes dreams do become reality in the NFL.