For the fifth time in franchise history, the Broncos chose a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL draft when general manager John Elway selected Jerry Jeudy with the 15th overall pick.
If the past is prologue, then Broncos fans might have reason to temper their expectations. Of the four previous first-round pass catchers, only Demaryius Thomas (2010) was a Pro Bowl selection, and Ashley Lelie (2002) was the only other one to submit a 1,000-yard season. Of course, none of those players were selected as early as Jeudy at No. 15.
Ricky Nattiel (27th overall, 1987)
| Seasons | Games | Rec. | Rec. yards | TDs | Pro Bowls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 70 | 121 | 1,972 | 8 | 0 |
Comment: The Florida Gator started just 17 games during his Broncos career, with his best season coming during his rookie year (31 receptions, 630 yards).
Marcus Nash (30th overall, 1998)
| Seasons | Games | Rec. | Rec. yards | TDs | Pro Bowls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1+ | 10 | 4 | 76 | 0 | 0 |
Comment: One of Peyton Manning’s favorite targets at Tennessee had a short stay in Denver after he was traded early in his second season with the Broncos.
Ashley Lelie (19th overall, 2002)
| Seasons | Games | Rec. | Rec. yards | TDs | Pro Bowls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 65 | 168 | 3,007 | 12 | 0 |
Comment: After flashing some potential — including a 1,000-yard campaign in 2004 — the Hawaii product was sent to Atlanta in August 2006 as part of a three-team trade that netted Denver third- (T Ryan Harris) and fourth-round (DB Jack Williams) picks.
Demaryius Thomas (22nd overall, 2010)
| Seasons | Games | Rec. | Rec. yards | TDs | Pro Bowls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 125 | 665 | 9,055 | 60 | 4 |
Comment: Safe to say this one was a home run for the Broncos, who got a four-time Pro Bowler and future Ring of Famer who will likely finish second behind Rod Smith (11,389) in franchise receiving yards.
