From left, Denver Broncos second and third-round picks in the NFL Draft, Royce Freeman, Cortland Sutton and Isaac Yiadom, hold up jerseys during a photo opportunity after they were introduced to the media Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Englewood, Colo. Sutton was the team's second-round pick. Freeman and Yiadom were both third-round picks for the Broncos. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Out with the long-shot projects and in with the long-term prospects.
Denver Broncos general manager John Elway's 2018 draft haul looks vastly different than his previous two classes that were short on experience and long on question marks.
This one is packed with mature players who were captains in college, stayed in school four years and donned cap and gown before ever putting on a Broncos cap to celebrate their draft selection.
Elway picked North Carolina State pass rusher Bradley Chubb at No. 5, and then copied that cornerstone selection on Days 2 and 3.
Like Chubb, Elway's next six selections all spent four years in college, including second-round wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who took a medical redshirt his first year at SMU and graduated after his junior season.
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Royce Freeman, a running back from Oregon, one of two third-round selections in the NFL football draft by the Denver Broncos, responds to questions after he was introduced to the media Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press
Denver Broncos' second-round selection int he NFL Draft, wide receiver Courtland Sutton from Southern Methodist, jokes with reporters as he is introduced to the media Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press
Denver Broncos second-round selection in the NFL Draft, wide receiver Courtland Sutton from Southern Methodist, jokes with reporters as he was introduced to the media Saturday, April 28, 2018, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press
Bradley Chubb, center, the Denver Broncos' first-round selection with the fifth overall pick in the NFL football draft, poses for a photograph with John Elway, left, the team's general manager, and coach Vance Joseph on Friday, April 27, 2018, at the team's headquarters in Englewood, Colo. p(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Associated Press