With the NFL draft coming up this week and the Broncos holding the No. 9 overall pick, here’s a look at Denver’s five best and five worst first-round selections in franchise history.
THE BEST
LB Von Miller (No. 2 overall in 2011, Texas A&M) — Entering his 10th season in Denver, the eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro holds the team sack record (106), was the Super Bowl 50 MVP and is fast-tracking toward Canton.
RB Floyd Little (No. 6 in 1967, Syracuse) — The Hall of Famer, who died in January, was the first first-round pick to sign with Denver. “The Franchise” had 6,323 rushing yards and 43 TDs over nine seasons as the Broncos’ first bona fide star.
LB Randy Gradishar (No. 14 in 1974, Ohio State) — Gradishar earned seven Pro Bowl nods, two All-Pro selections and was the 1978 AP defensive rookie of the year as the centerpiece of the Orange Crush D. He deserves to be in Canton.
S Steve Atwater (No. 20 in 1989, Arkansas) — A secondary pillar on the Broncos’ two Super Bowl teams in the 90s, the Hall of Famer was an eight-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and had 24 interceptions over 10 seasons in Denver.
LB John Mobley (No. 15 in 1996, Kutztown) — With honorable mention to fellow linebacker Al Wilson, Mobley anchored Denver’s defense to Super Bowls in 1997 and ’98, earning All-Pro in the former year. He started 102 games with Denver.
THE WORST
DT Merlin Olsen (No. 2 in 1962 AFL, Utah State) — One of several first-round picks who never signed with the AFL Broncos, Olsen had a Hall of Fame career with the Rams. He played 15 seasons and was a Pro Bowler in 14 of them.
T Bob Brown (No. 4 in 1964 AFL, Nebraska) — Like Olsen, Brown chose the NFL over the fledging AFL. Over a decade with the Eagles, Rams and Raiders, the Hall of Fame right tackle was a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro.
QB Tim Tebow (No. 25 in 2010, Florida) — GM Brian Xanders threw up a Hail Mary by drafting the Heisman Trophy winner. Tebow led the Broncos to a memorable overtime wild card win in 2012, then was traded a couple of months later.
WR Marcus Nash (No. 30 in 1998, Tennessee) — A total bust, Nash had four catches for 76 yards in 10 games (one start) in Denver. He had zero touchdowns and Denver quickly gave up on him, trading him to Miami in 1999.
QB Paxton Lynch (No. 26 in 2016, Memphis) — Probably the biggest drafting whiff of John Elway’s tenure as GM, Lynch was 1-3 in four starts in Denver. The fact Lynch never played another NFL down after getting cut in 2017 is telling.
