Here are the best NFL Draft picks by the Denver Broncos dating back to the AFL/NFL merger.

With the help from our own Joe Mahoney, we’ve got a mega list of historical NFL Draft picks by the Denver Broncos dating back to the AFL/NFL merger ranked by overall career approximate value (AV). Unsurprisingly, a Super Bowl MVP sits atop the list. However from there, things get rather interesting and debatable.

From this list of 101 players, we have 30 first-round picks, 20 second-round picks, 12 third-round picks, 11 fourth-round picks, eight fifth-round picks, eight sixth-round picks, six seventh-round picks, and six drafted between rounds eight and twelve. This suggests that talent really is most likely found within the first two rounds. Hitting on late round picks is more luck-based than skill-based for general managers.

The most shocking thing here is the total lack of drafted Hall of Famers by this Franchise. While Von Miller is certainly a first ballot guy, there have been just four other players drafted by the Denver Broncos to receive the gold jacket and one will not get his until later this year: Randy Gradishar, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater, and Terrell Davis.

Then we get into the oddities of how player career values are calculated. Such as, Jay Cutler being a Top 5 all-time draft pick by the Broncos. Above Hall of Fame players like Sharpe and Atwater. I suppose the value of an above average quarterback is far higher than that of a Hall of Famer at another position. In today’s NFL that surely is true.

Once I got outside the Top 30 or so, though, I began to wonder how the heck this franchise ever even made a Super Bowl much less won multiple. Their prowess in free agency and trades is what made the difference for them. From John Elway to Champ Bailey to Peyton Manning, they’ve hit some mega home runs on both fronts that helped the franchise to decades of sustained success.

For this franchise to dig out of the hole its been in since 2016, however, they are going to have to start drafting well. Hopefully that era of solid drafting begins in a few weeks.

What are your thoughts on the Broncos draft history? Share in the comments section below.