We’re now just days away from the start of the 2016 NFL Draft, and everyone in Denver is hoping John Elway will find the next great Bronco, especially if it’s a quarterback. But as everyone who follows the NFL knows, the draft is a total crapshoot; teams are lucky if they strike gold 50 percent of the time, even in the first and second rounds.
But it absolutely does happen. And when it does, we’ll remember those names forever.
So with that in mind, we’re looking back at the five greatest draft picks in franchise history — undrafted players don’t count.
While it’s difficult to dispute these guys’ resumes, let us know if you have another favorites we didn’t get to. Otherwise, here goes!
Honorable Mention: John Elway
Pick: 1st Round (1st Overall) Experience: 16 years (16 with Broncos)
Career Stats: 51,475 yards; 56.9% completion; 300 touchdowns; 226 interceptions; 79.9 QB rating
Honors: Hall of Fame; NFL MVP (’87); Super Bowl MVP (’98); 9-time Pro Bowler; 3-time AP 2nd-Team All-Pro
While John Elway is without question the greatest Denver Bronco in franchise history, technically he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts. And while he was immediately traded to Denver and played every one of his 234 career games in the blue and orange, his draft status is bit of a gray area.
Nonetheless, Elway deserves to be on this list, even if it has to be as an honorable mention.
