Heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, there was much mystery around what the Denver Broncos were going to do with the fifth overall selection. Much of this was due to it being out of control in terms of what players will be on the board at their spot in the order.
However, the team wound up in the position of being able to take former North Carolina State standout defensive end Bradley Chubb. It is something that Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods couldn't believe when the opportunity to snag Chubb presented itself to the franchise, (h/t Chris Wesseling of NFL.com).
“When I saw him after the pick that night,” NFL Network's James Palmer relayed on NFL Up to the Minute, “[Woods] said, James, please pinch me. This can't be real.”
There had been a growing belief prior to the draft that Chubb could be off the board before the Broncos made their selection, but things unfolded in their favor as two other top-four selections at the second and fourth overall spots that were not quarterbacks saw Penn State's Saquon Barkley go to the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns take Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward at the other spot. Chubb had constantly been in the discussion to be a possible choice at both spots.
During his collegiate has displayed at the collegiate level to be a game-changing talent at his position that can be both an effective factor against the pass and run. In the 2017 season, he finished second in the nation with 26 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two pass deflections, and three forced fumbles. This helped him earn a First-Team All-American nod, a First-Team All-ACC selection while winning the Hendricks award that is given to the best defensive end in the country, and the Bronko Nagurski award that is handed to the best overall defender.
All of this put the Broncos in the position to possibly have a dynamic pass rush duo in place for the next several years with Chubb and All-Pro Von Miller that could help lift the defense to the next level.
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