Skip to main content
Advertising

From the archive: The Denver Broncos' top 12 draft picks in franchise history

As the Broncos approach the 2024 NFL Draft holding the 12th-overall pick, get ready for the big moment with this look back at the 12 best draft picks in team history, as selected by DenverBroncos.com staff members.

1967 AFL-NFL Draft: No. 6 overall Accolades: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, five AFL All-Star or Pro Bowl selections, 1969 AFL first-team All-Pro, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, first Denver Broncos first-round pick to sign with Denver, 1971 NFL rushing leader, 1973 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award,
1 / 12
1967 - RB Floyd Little

1967 AFL-NFL Draft: No. 6 overall

Accolades: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, five AFL All-Star or Pro Bowl selections, 1969 AFL first-team All-Pro, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, first Denver Broncos first-round pick to sign with Denver, 1971 NFL rushing leader, 1973 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award,

1974 NFL Draft: No. 14 overall Accolades: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, seven Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, three second-team All-Pro selections, 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, Denver Broncos all-time tackling leader
2 / 12
1974 - LB Randy Gradishar

1974 NFL Draft: No. 14 overall

Accolades: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, seven Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, three second-team All-Pro selections, 1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, Denver Broncos all-time tackling leader

1975 NFL Draft: No. 17 overall Accolades: Five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, second-team NFL 1970s All-Decade Team selection
3 / 12
1975 - CB Louis Wright

1975 NFL Draft: No. 17 overall

Accolades: Five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, second-team NFL 1970s All-Decade Team selection

1975 NFL Draft, No. 95 overall (fourth round) Accolades: Four Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, 1975 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 1977 NFL leader in punt return yards, fourth in NFL history in career punt return touchdowns, first-team NFL 1970s All-Decade Team selection, second-team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
4 / 12
1975, Round 4 - WR/RS Rick Upchurch

1975 NFL Draft, No. 95 overall (fourth round)

Accolades: Four Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, 1975 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 1977 NFL leader in punt return yards, fourth in NFL history in career punt return touchdowns, first-team NFL 1970s All-Decade Team selection, second-team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

1981 NFL Draft: No. 15 overall Accolades: Six Pro Bowl selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
5 / 12
1981 - S Dennis Smith

1981 NFL Draft: No. 15 overall

Accolades: Six Pro Bowl selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Eric Lars Bakke/© Eric Lars Bakke
1983 NFL Draft, No. 310 overall (12th round) Accolades: Six Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
6 / 12
1983, Round 12 - LB Karl Mecklenburg

1983 NFL Draft, No. 310 overall (12th round)

Accolades: Six Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Eric Lars Bakke
1989 NFL Draft: No. 20 overall Accolades: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII), eight Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, first-team NFL 1990s All-Decade Team selection
7 / 12
1989 - S Steve Atwater

1989 NFL Draft: No. 20 overall

Accolades: Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII), eight Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, first-team NFL 1990s All-Decade Team selection

David Gonzales
1990 NFL Draft, No. 192 overall (seventh round) Accolades: Eight Pro Bowl selections (seven with Denver, 1 with Baltimore), four first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, two-time Super Bowl champion with Denver (XXXII and XXXIII, and one additional with Baltimore), first-team NFL 1990s All Decade Team selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
8 / 12
1990, Round 7 - TE Shannon Sharpe

1990 NFL Draft, No. 192 overall (seventh round)

Accolades: Eight Pro Bowl selections (seven with Denver, 1 with Baltimore), four first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, two-time Super Bowl champion with Denver (XXXII and XXXIII, and one additional with Baltimore), first-team NFL 1990s All Decade Team selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Ryan McKee
1994 NFL Draft, No. 218 overall (seventh round) Accolades: Five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
9 / 12
1994, Round 7 - C Tom Nalen

1994 NFL Draft, No. 218 overall (seventh round)

Accolades: Five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Eric Lars Bakke
1995 NFL Draft, No. 196 overall (sixth round) Accolades: Three Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, 1998 NFL MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Super Bowl XXXII MVP, 1995 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 1997 NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, 1998 NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, 1998 NFL rushing leader, second-team NFL 1990s All-Decade Team selection, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, holder of several franchise records including all-time Denver Broncos rushing leader
10 / 12
1995, Round 6 - RB Terrell Davis

1995 NFL Draft, No. 196 overall (sixth round)

Accolades: Three Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, 1998 NFL MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Super Bowl XXXII MVP, 1995 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 1997 NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, 1998 NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, 1998 NFL rushing leader, second-team NFL 1990s All-Decade Team selection, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, holder of several franchise records including all-time Denver Broncos rushing leader

Rich Clarkson
2010 NFL Draft: No. 22 overall Accolades: Super Bowl 50 champion, five Pro Bowl selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, No. 1 in Denver Broncos history in single-season receiving yardage, single-season receiving touchdowns (14 - tied with Anthony Miller) and single-game receiving yardage, No. 2 in Denver Broncos history in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, No. 3 in Denver Broncos history in career receptions
11 / 12
2010 - WR Demaryius Thomas

2010 NFL Draft: No. 22 overall

Accolades: Super Bowl 50 champion, five Pro Bowl selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, No. 1 in Denver Broncos history in single-season receiving yardage, single-season receiving touchdowns (14 - tied with Anthony Miller) and single-game receiving yardage, No. 2 in Denver Broncos history in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, No. 3 in Denver Broncos history in career receptions

Gabriel Christus/Gabriel Christus 2012
2011 NFL Draft: No. 2 overall Accolades: Two-time Super Bowl champion (Super Bowl 50 with Broncos, LVI with Rams), Super Bowl 50 MVP, eight Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, four second-team All-Pro selections, 2011 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
12 / 12
2011 - OLB Von Miller

2011 NFL Draft: No. 2 overall

Accolades: Two-time Super Bowl champion (Super Bowl 50 with Broncos, LVI with Rams), Super Bowl 50 MVP, eight Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, four second-team All-Pro selections, 2011 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Gabriel Christus/© Gabriel Christus
Advertising
This Ad will close in 3
Advertising

Related

gallery

Photos: A peek inside the 2024 NFLPA Rookie Premiere with Bo Nix, Troy Franklin and Audric Estime

Rookies Bo Nix, Troy Franklin and Audric Estime represented the Broncos at the NFLPA's 2024 Rookie Premiere weekend events, as they donned their new uniforms for the first time and posed for portraits.
gallery

The Denver Broncos' 2024 draft class in photos

Here is a quick look at the Denver Broncos' 2024 draft class.
gallery

Photos: Seventh-round pick Nick Gargiulo's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of G Nick Gargiulo's path from South Carolina to the Broncos, who selected him with the 256th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Seventh-round pick Devaughn Vele's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of WR Devaughn Vele's path from Utah to the Broncos, who selected him with the 235th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Fifth-round pick Audric Estime's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of RB Audric Estime's path from Notre Dame to the Broncos, who selected him with the 147th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Fifth-round pick Kris Abrams-Draine's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of CB Kris Abrams-Draine's path from Missouri to the Broncos, who selected him with the 145th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Fourth-round pick Troy Franklin's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of WR Troy Franklin's path from Oregon to the Broncos, who selected him with the 102nd-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Third-round pick Jonah Elliss' path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of OLB Jonah Elliss' path from Utah to the Broncos, who selected him with the 76th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Inside the Broncos' war room during the 2024 NFL Draft

Go inside the Denver Broncos' war room during the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Broncos Country shows out at 2024 Broncos Draft Party presented by Ticketmaster

Check out photos from the 2024 Broncos Draft Party presented by Ticketmaster at Empower Field at Mile High on Thursday night.
gallery

Photos: First-round pick Bo Nix's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of QB Bo Nix's path from Auburn to Oregon and now to the Broncos, who selected him with the 12th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Every 2024 draft prospect analysts mocked to the Denver Broncos in the first round

Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, we rounded up as many major mock drafts that we could find since January to make a pool of potential first-round draft picks for the Denver Broncos.
Advertising