ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In his third mock draft of the pre-draft season, ESPN’s Todd McShay diverted from the quarterback-for-the-Broncos scenario with the No. 5 pick.

In his first two mock drafts, McShay had the Broncos selecting Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield, respectively. But in his third, McShay considers the possibility the Broncos use free agency to repair their quarterback issues, which would leave the No. 5 pick open to some other possibilities.

In this case he sees Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson as the best possibility because Nelson is one of the best players on this draft board. It’s rare for teams to consider guards this high on the draft board -- select company in the top five picks of the draft that has included Leonard Davis at No. 2 in 2001 and Hall of Famer John Hannah at No. 4 in 1973 -- but Nelson is a rare player.

Nelson is a walk-in starter for any team that picks him. His game video is highlighted by double-take blocks and a physical presence that is impossible to ignore, especially when he's clearing whole sections of the field in the run game. He was also a team captain who started 36 games in his three seasons in the Irish lineup.

The Broncos certainly have a need in the offensive line, given it has been an unsettled position group for each of the last four seasons. Nelson does project as a left guard in the NFL, so the Broncos would have to decide if they would play him there or move Nelson to the right side to move Ron Leary back to left guard.

Leary was signed in free agency a year ago to play left guard, but was moved to right guard before the season so Max Garcia could play on the left, where he was more comfortable.