Terrell Davis. Shannon Sharpe. Steve Atwater. Randy Gradishar. Tom Jackson. Karl Mecklenburg. Tom Nalen. Louis Wright. Lyle Alzado. Rick Upchurch.
They are some of the best players to ever don a Broncos uniform. None were picked higher than the 14th overall selection in the NFL draft, and one was picked as late as the 310th overall selection in the 12th round.
Not coincidentally, they are all up for consideration to be named one of the 75 Most Valuable Draft Picks in league history.
Fans can vote on NFL.com now — voting ends April 18 — choosing between pairs of players randomly generated from a list of 320 all-time most valuable draft picks as chosen by NFL.com editors. After choosing the winners of 30 random matchups, fans can begin to build their own Top 10 list, and continue voting from there to alter their top 10.
Afterwards, you can share your lists and head-to-head winners on Facebook. So when you’re done voting, be sure to share your lists on the Broncos’ official Facebook page.
Following the conclusion of the fan vote, picks 11 through 75 will be announced from April 19 to April 22 on NFL.com and NFL Network. The top 10 greatest Draft picks then will be revealed during the 2010 NFL Draft. The top 10 will be announced during the first round of the draft, which begins Thursday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m. MST. The actual order of the top 10 will be revealed at the conclusion of the second round of the draft on Friday night.
Speaking of the draft, NFL.com recently released its list of the top undrafted players of all time.
Among the names is Willie Brown at No. 5. Brown was signed by the Broncos as a free agent in 1963 and played 50 games in his four seasons with the club. He intercepted 15 passes in Denver — nine of which came in his rookie season — and was named the outstanding back in the AFL All-Star game in January 1965. Now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Brown spent most of his career with the Oakland Raiders after being traded in 1967.
The next notable Bronco to make the list is Cornell Green at No. 10. He spent his playing career with the Dallas Cowboys after being named a two-time All-American basketball player at Utah State. He didn’t play any college football, but went on to snag 34 career interceptions and earn seven trips to the Pro Bowl. He played cornerback for his first 10 years in the league and switched to safety for his final four, making the Pro Bowl at each position.
Where do the Broncos come in, you ask? Green began scouting for the Cowboys as an active player in 1970, and continued to do so for nine years before entering private business. But in 1987, Green came to the Broncos as a scout. In 2010, he enters his 31st year scouting in the NFL and his 24th season doing so for the Broncos. He has been a scouting consultant for the past six years for the club, and has scouted the Southwest, South, East and Midwest regions throughout his career with the Broncos.
Vice President of Corporate Communications Jim Saccomano wrote a blog about Green earlier this season, as the Broncos were preparing to play the Cowboys.
But there’s one more Bronco on the list of the top undrafted players of all time — Rod Smith. He made the top 50, as he is the all-time leading receiver among undrafted players.
And finally, while we’re on the topic, just ran across something that was posted in the offseason last year, but just wanted to post it again here in case you missed it. NFL.com put together the “ultimate” first-round draft class, picking only the best players to ever be selected at a certain spot.
For example, John Elway was voted the best No. 1 draft pick of all time. Others receiving votes included Peyton Manning, Bruce Smith, Earl Campbell, Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Bednarik.
The Broncos had two more players mentioned on the list — Steve Atwater received votes as the best No. 20 draft pick of all time, but lost out to former Packers tackle Forrest Gregg, and Randy Gradishar was up for consideration as the best No. 14 pick of all time, but lost out to former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly.
Just some fun updates to get excited for the upcoming NFL Draft, which runs from April 22 to April 24. The first round will be held Thursday, April 22, rounds 2 and 3 will be on Friday, April 23 and rounds 4-7 will close out the draft on Saturday, April 24.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Cornell Green, John Elway, Karl Mecklenburg, Louis Wright, Lyle Alzado, NFL Draft, Randy Gradishar, Rick Upchurch, Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe, Steve Atwater, Terrell Davis, Tom Jackson, Tom Nalen, Willie Brown
Royalbeast:
There are two reason the Broncos were willing to sign the FA’s they did:
1) They were FA’s and so no other team was due any compensation because the Broncos signed them
2) You can be almost cetain that none of their contracts included any guaranteed money.
Unless there is guaranteed money involved, the length of any players contract is totally meaningless. Just ask Simms who the Broncos signed to a TWO year contract. He palyed only one, he gets paid for only one. If any of the new Bronco FA’s are a bust, they’re cut and the pay stops.
Which gets back to my point of why the Broncos are slow in signing Doom, etc to any long term contracts. The 2011 season in doubt.
Happy St Paddy’s day to all. May the luck of the Irish be with us. Rod Smith is and always will be given the respect he deserves here in Denver! His catch vs. the Falcons in the SB was one I will always remember..
FTR
The latest mock draft I just saw on nfl.com had the Raiders picking Ndomuknog Suh!!!!! Let’s hope that’s not true, that would suck having to go against him twice a year!!!!
..well considering the raiders are the best in the business at wasting talent…i wouldnt be too worried..
The Raiders pick at no. 8. I doubt Suh lasts that long. They think he could fall to them because of the need for OL also, so I guess you never know. It would be very strange to see a team pick an OL over a NT though that high in the draft IMO.
I guess its a good thing there is no salary cap this year. I may be wrong, but, even though Simms was cut, whatever he was due would have counted against that salary cap. I was also under the impression that he would still have to be paid even though he was cut. Unless he was signed by another team. Am I mistaken?
If Suh drops past the 6th pick, we need to trade up for the 7th and ensure that the Al Davis organization does not finally get it together!!!
Old south sndvl is right any other year the broncos wouldve got a cap hit for cutting simms. In the 3 million range. contract is a contract.
That is simply the worst mock draft I’ve ever seen. So much for experts at NFL.com
They act like peewee coaches, just because they have a title they think they know everything about football. Ever. Period.
The last mock draft I seen had the Raiders taking OT Russell Okung.That would make more sense for them,since they need a OT to protect Jamarcus Russell.just saying….You never know with Al Davis’ “JUST WIN BABY” philosophy.LMAO .they’ll probably take a kicker(they like kickers)LMAO.
SUH won’t drop past the 3rd pick guarunteed!!!!!
Give bucky brooks the benefit of the doubt. What you all say is valid, that teams won’t pass on suh and that Raiders need a OT to protect QB.
Brooks mock draft is based on a domino effect. Its based on what if ____. In this case, what if the need for OT is too great for some teams to pass up on, teams like Lions, Bucs, in need of protecting their future QBs they drafted last year. It is also known that the Redskins will either take an OT or QB….so if all the 1st round OTs are gone, domino effect, and the raiders will forget thier need and take the best on the board. Its farfetched, but not outside the realm of possibility especially since the mind of head coaches is a very scary place lol
PS: yes, we would usually take a hit for simms, but without a salary cap,, no hit….it was in the rules that coop put up for us a few blogs back.
The NFL.com mock is actually pretty pathetic. There is NO WAY that Suh drops to the Raiders. And they say Cincinatti picks Bryant. Spikes doesn’t even go in the 1st. Sheesh.
You can call it pathetic but its any mans guess…just because they have the title of analyst doesnt give them more insight into the brains of headcoaches of what they see, how they plan, etc…just cuz a team needs a OT doesnt mean that the coach beleive it has to be a first round OT…There are many funny coaches like that….Mock Drafts last year seemed to make sense on who McDaniels should pick and we all got blindsided….point is, its any mans guess and while i doubt suh will drop as well….you never know….
It is kind of a shot in the dark. But I still seriously doubt that Suh drops that far. He is too good. If a team is drafting top talent instead of for need, he’s gone. But I get your point that nobody can really see into the coach’s mind. And I guess I can see where Brooks was coming from with his whole domino effect theory. I just don’t think it will ever happen to that degree.
As i think more and more about the brady quinn situation i feel kind of happy about it. Lets look at it in a few different ways. Brady quinn was a 1st round qb a few years ago. He went to the browns and didnt produce well…HOWEVER IMHO he didnt have the pieces or coaching around him to do good…Erick M. isnt a great coach in my opinion. He didnt do well with a great player in favre and i dont think he did good with a great player in brady. From what i see quinn has that hunger to win and always make himself better. NOW i like orton and im a supporter of him. But orton plays to not lose, while quinn plays to win. I think thats what seperates them and i think that makes it where quinn is the starter. Now im not sure if its right away, or next year in the possible walk out year.
I know this is a long shot , but i think quinn could very well be this franchise…The Denver Broncos have always been a team to find those dimonds in the ruff..And i believe Quinn is one. If we keep marshall and sheff then i think our offense will increase ten fold. Mcdaniels is a qb kinda guy, and i think he will develop an already familiar qb to the system brady quinn. I liked hillis alot, but its kind of a relief getting rid of him just because it was painfull not seeing him play. I screamed with eveyrone else about letting hillis play, but now i have more than 1 team to watch next year. Heres to the upcoming season!!!! Have faith bronco fans.
Mangini is from the same coaching tree as McD…the Belichick tree! So, with that kind of logic, does that mean McD is not a great coach? Or Romeo Crennel? Or Charlie Weis? Or Kirk Ferentz? Or Jim Schwartz? Or Nick Saban? Or Rob Ryan?
Im neither excited or disappointed in the Quinn deal. Just a diehard fan curious as to what direction this team is heading-
GO BRONCOS 2K10!!!!!!!!!!
I agree blaze. My problem however is that we say, “at least we have an oline”….last year Orton got sacked 29 times, now we can blame the o line but that was the same oline that protected Cutler to only 11 sacks. It damn near tripled. and while its Ortons fault for not being the most mobile…I blame the scheme more than anything and if we don’t tighten up the blocking scheme….we are gonna need 5 Clady’s on the line. And yes, I agree we will need Marshall and Sheff. With Marshall, Quinn will look amazing while still developing but yea if Orton wins the Job….Go Orton…
sndvl
well seeing as how they came from a cheating tree, who knows lol
Very funny TRB. Yet, so disheartening…..
In case anybody cares to know, we have 6 picks in the upcoming draft.
1-#11
2-#45
3-#80
4-#112
5-no pick (traded to Dallas for Holland?)
6-#174
7-#211
we have seen what orton can do its alright and now we can finally see what qunn can do. browns didnt give him a chance by surrounding him whith any weapons. and sndvl mcd is the only one who beat his mentor. no of them did. i think he is a heck of a lot better than those coaches you named.
Check it out and see if I’ve been right. WEAPONS,WEAPONS,WEAPONS. Go Broncos!!!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-Shutdown-Corner-post-free-agency-mock-draft-?urn=nfl,228870