With the benefit of hindsight, NFL fans and pundits routinely mock the Denver Broncos for passing on quarterback Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft.
The Broncos picked pass rusher Bradley Chubb fifth overall that year. Two picks later, the Buffalo Bills landed Allen.
Had then-general manager John Elway managed to pull off a trade, Denver could have made an even bigger blunder than staying put at No. 5 and picking Chubb.
Check out this nugget from Dan Benton of Giants Wire, citing reporting from SNY’s Connor Hughes:
After learning that Baker Mayfield would go No. 1 overall, John Elway was desperate to trade up for quarterback Sam Darnold. He was ready to offer the Giants a king’s random.
Then-general manager Dave Gettleman ignored the call.
Elway reportedly wanted to trade up from No. 5 to No. 2 to ensure he could jump the New York Jets and land Darnold. The New York Giants were not interested because they were locked in on picking running back Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick.
Mayfield went No. 1, followed by Barkley, Darnold and cornerback Denzel Ward. Then the Broncos drafted Chubb fifth overall. It’s impossible to know how Darnold might have fared in Denver, but he went 13-25 with the Jets and then 8-9 with the Carolina Panthers.
Trading a “king’s ransom” for Darnold would have been a mistake — not as big of a mistake as passing on Allen, but arguably a worse option than drafting Chubb. Elway stepped down three years after that draft. Darnold has since spent time with three teams and he’s set to become a free agent in March.
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