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2018 NFL Draft Grades: AFC West
AFC West

[April 30, 2018] Denver Broncos

1 (5). Bradley Chubb, DE: 6-4, 269, N.C. State

2 (40). Courtland Sutton, WR: 6-3, 218, SMU

3 (71). Royce Freeman, RB: 6-0, 229, Oregon

3 (99). Isaac Yiadom, CB: 6-1, 190, Boston College

4 (106). Josey Jewell, LB: 6-1, 234, Iowa

5 (113). DaeSean Hamilton, WR: 6-1, 203, Penn State

5 (156). Troy Fumagalli, TE: 6-5, 247, Wisconsin

6 (183). Sam Jones, G: 6-5, 290, Arizona State

6 (217). Keishawn Bierria, LB: 6-0, 230, Washington

7 (226). David Williams, RB: 6-0, 226, Arkansas

Grade: A-

Case Keenum detractors can debate passing on a QB at No. 5, but John Elway maximized his picks. After the draft's best defender fell in his lap, he added a wealth of sorely needed offensive talent along with depth at cornerback and linebacker. Su'a Cravens (fifth-rounder) and Jared Veldheer (sixth) were also acquired with 2018 draft picks.

Best pick: Chubb. While not quite a perfect fit in a 3-4, Chubb has experience in all sorts of front-seven alignments out of two- and three-point stances. He should immediately be an upgrade against the run, and as we all know, you can't have too many pass-rushers.

Upside pick: Sutton. Expected by some to go in Round 1, Sutton has great speed (4.54 40-yard dash) and agility (6.57 3-cone drill) for his size, along with a knack for spectacular catches. If he learns to use his tools to separate better, he could be DeAndre Hopkins-like.

Kansas City Chiefs

2 (46). Breeland Speaks, DE: 6-3, 283, Ole Miss

3 (75). Derrick Nnadi, DT: 6-1, 317, Florida State

3 (100). Dorian O'Daniel, LB: 6-1, 223, Clemson

4 (124). Armani Watts, S: 5-11, 202, Texas A&M

6 (196). Tremon Smith, CB: 5-11, 183, Central Arkansas

6 (198). Khalil McKenzie, DT-OG: 6-3, 314, Tennessee

Grade: C+

Without a first-rounder after trading up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017, GM Brett Veach was aggressive, sending away five picks while recouping three (third-, fifth- and sixth-rounders) in four different trades (three up, one down). The front seven got much-needed help, but waiting to address cornerback hurts the grade some. Mahomes' future could make it all worthwhile.

Best pick: Nnadi. The Chiefs were gashed against the run last year, especially out of nickel and dime sets, and had to fix the problem. Big and thickly built, Nnadi has the sturdiness to soothe that problem, even if he won't provide much pass-rush pop.

Upside pick: Speaks. He aligned all over the Rebels' D-line, but per head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs specifically targeted Speaks as a 3-4 outside linebacker after seeing similarities to Tamba Hali. The transition could take time, but his size and movement skills make for a high ceiling.

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Los Angeles Chargers

1 (17). Derwin James, S: 6-2, 215, Florida State

2 (48). Uchenna Nwosu, LB: 6-2, 251, USC

3 (84). Justin Jones, DT: 6-3, 309, N.C. State

4 (119). Kyzir White, S: 6-2, 218, West Virginia

5 (155). Scott Quessenberry, C: 6-4, 315, UCLA

6 (191). Dylan Cantrell, WR: 6-3, 226, Texas Tech

7 (251). Justin Jackson, RB: 6-0, 193, Northwestern

Grade: B+

GM Tom Telesco got terrific bargains on Swiss Army-knife playmakers in the first two rounds before addressing a shaky run defense in Round 3. Including White, the Chargers added four major defensive contributors while also finding depth up front with Quessenberry. They could have taken a flier on an heir to Philip Rivers, but this is a great class.

Best pick: Nwosu. This could easily be James, but Nwosu was also a great value at 48. He's not an elite pure pass rusher, but the instinctive linebacker has a knack for swatting passes and is also very comfortable off the ball and in coverage.

Upside pick: James. Expected by many to go in the top-10, James fell in L.A.'s lap at 17. He's one of the best athletes in the draft -- some have called him a more athletic Kam Chancellor -- and could be an absolute star in Gus Bradley's Cover-3 defense.

Oakland Raiders

1 (15). Kolton Miller, OT: 6-9, 309, UCLA

2 (57). P.J. Hall, DT: 6-0, 295, Sam Houston State

3 (65). Brandon Parker, OT: 6-8, 305, North Carolina A&T

3 (87). Arden Key, DE: 6-5, 238, LSU

4 (110). Nick Nelson, CB: 5-11, 200, Wisconsin

5 (140). Maurice Hurst, DT: 6-1, 292, Michigan

5 (173). Johnny Townsend, P: 6-1, 209, Florida

6 (216). Azeem Victor, LB: 6-2, 240, Washington

7 (228). Marcell Ateman, WR: 6-5, 216, Oklahoma State

Grade: D

Jon Gruden and Vegas' future team looked comfortable gambling. The first six picks are terrific athletes, but all but Hurst remain raw. Nelson (knee) and Hurst (heart) have medical issues; Key and Martavis Bryant (acquired for No. 79) bring character concerns. It all feels like too much risk, and Oakland's leaky defense still needs more help at linebacker and cornerback.

Best pick

Player: Hurst. This is an easy one. It's not a stretch to say Hurst is the best player Oakland took in the whole draft. Nobody knows how the heart irregularity, found during a physical at the combine, will affect Hurst's future, but his slide gave the Raiders great value and a much-needed interior rusher.

Upside pick: Parker. Like Miller, Parker is long and a terrific athlete for the position but needs time to develop. If Tom Cable can polish this small-school gem properly, he could be a future star protecting Derek Carr.

--Field Level Media

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