Re-drafting the Denver Broncos last 10 first-round picks
![CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Patrick Surtain II poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell onstage after being selected ninth by the Denver Broncos during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 29: Patrick Surtain II poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell onstage after being selected ninth by the Denver Broncos during round one of the 2021 NFL Draft at the Great Lakes Science Center on April 29, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fpredominantlyorange-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1315293347-850x560-0f88c527d740b093d4dc7af3234834974f213b5b33a2ba97882fd59e8e216610.jpg)
Denver Broncos 2018 re-draft pick: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Original pick (5th overall): Bradley Chubb, EDGE, North Carolina State
Looking back at the 2018 NFL Draft, taking Bradley Chubb was the right choice for the Denver Broncos at the time.
Chubb was a top-tier edge prospect coming out of North Carolina State and there were major question marks, at the time, surrounding Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen.
Most Broncos fans didn’t want Josh Allen. Not all, but most.
Many Broncos fans wanted Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson, however, and are still upset to this day that the team took Chubb over the former Golden Domer.
Nelson was certainly an imposing player at the guard position for Notre Dame and he would have filled a big need for the Denver Broncos.
At the time, the Broncos were in the post-DeMarcus Ware era and Shane Ray was on his way out.
Shaquill Barrett had shown potential but the team didn’t want to pass on Chubb — who was outstanding in his rookie season — to pair up with Von Miller.
If they could make the pick again, would they take Nelson over Chubb? Knowing what we know now, maybe.
Certainly, Josh Allen would be in that mix as well, but if every team got to re-draft in 2018, Allen would have been the number one overall pick.
Also, keep in mind, in this re-draft timeline the Broncos also took Russell Wilson in 2012.
It’s tough to look back on this scenario for many fans because Chubb has struggled with injuries in three consecutive seasons while Nelson has been mostly healthy and dominant for the Colts (except last season) and Allen has become a mega-star for the Bills.