Earlier I did a blog on the history of the Denver Broncos’ draft choices when the team has had a selection among the first 10 players in the entire draft.
There is no question that the potential for greatness is there where the choices are made, but it is very important that fans remember how significant late picks are in building a team as well, in addition to completely undrafted free agent players.
Let’s take a quick look at a number of very significant Broncos who were drafted either in the final round of the draft, or signed as an undrafted free agent player.
This will not even include the players like Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe, taken late but not at the end of the draft process.
Key Bronco players who were chosen in the final round of the draft and went on to have length NFL careers include:
1983 Karl Mecklenburg became a Ring of Fame member and starred on three Super Bowl teams with his brilliant play, but he was the 310th player selected in the 1983 draft. I remember that we flew all the draftees out to talk with the press, and I watched this carefully-no member of the press approached Mecklenburg until I asked out local Associated Press rep to ask him a few questions, as a favor to me, to not hurt Meck’s feelings. Unsung and unknown coming in, but a great player.
1987 Tyrone Braxton was the second to the last player chosen in the entire draft, the 334th overall, and played on five championship teams with the Broncos, the back-to-back world championship teams and the three Super Bowl teams in the 1980′s as well. He was once described by his head coach as “too small, too light, too slow, but all he does every Sunday is make big plays.”
1994 Tom Nalen now is considered a legitimate candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was a vital cog in Denver’s world championship teams. He was the 218th player drafted in 1995.
1995 Byron Chamberlain was a valuable receiver at the tight end position and eventually made the Pro Bowl at Minnesota after his Denver career ended. Byron was the 222nd player chosen in 1995.
Very impressive, but just the beginning, really, when you include players who actually were not drafted at all and then were signed as free agents. This is a long list, but some of the key free agent members are as follows-
All-time Bronco and Ring of Fame member Lionel Taylor was a free agent wide receiver who signed with Denver two weeks into the 1960 season while the Broncos were on an East Coast road swing. This was after he had been cut by the Chicago Bears as a free agent linebacker candidate. Think of the unlikely possibility that this linebacker cut by the Bears would catch 500 passes and have his name on the stadium wall in Denver.
Also in the 1960′s, the Broncos signed a St. Louis (baseball) Cardinals minor league third baseman who had played some college football at Memphis State. He was John Bramlett, and he was the top rookie defensive player in the American Football League in 1965 and he made the AFL all-star team in 1966. He was very tough, a very combative player. By the way, Bramlett, whose nickname was “Bull,” now is a minister and his autobiography is titled “Taming the Bull.”
Jack Dolbin was a wide receiver whose hands were as good as anybody’s, and he was a starting wide receiver here from 1975-79, including the Super Bowl season of 1977. You can read an entire chapter devoted to Dolbin in my book, “Game of My Life: Denver Broncos.”
Willie Brown was an undrafted free agent from Grambling in 1963 and played here through 1966, leading pro football in interceptions with nine in 1964, making the AFL all-star team. Of course, Willie Brown was subsequently traded to Oakland and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Steve Watson was an undrafted rookie wide receiver from Temple University who was an all-time fan favorite and Pro Bowl wide receiver here.
But Watson and Taylor were not even the top Bronco free agent signings at their own position. That honor has to go-it just has to go-to Rod Smith. Completely unheralded coming out of college, Smith became a vital cog in two world championship teams, catching a pivotal touchdown from John Elway in Super Bowl XXXIII, and he is pro football’s all-time leader as an undrafted free agent in receptions, reception yardage, and reception touchdowns. A genuine all-time great.
Undrafted local linebacker Rick Dennison signed with Denver after a stellar career at Colorado State University, and he played here from 1982-90, including all three Super Bowl teams in the decade of the 1990′s when Denver was the only AFC three-time Super Bowl participant.
How about Dave Studdard, signed by the Broncos as a free agent in 1979. He started at tackle from 1979-88, and “Studley” protected John Elway’s blind side in Super Bowls XXI and XXII.
Another undrafted free agent played on the same lie as Studdard-Keith Kartz was a free agent from the University of California who had a doubly long path to the NFL-he was a replacement player during the work stoppage of 1987 and continued to play for Denver through 1994, including two Super Bowl starts in Super Bowls XXII and XXIV.
Recognized as the most technically perfect nose tackle in the game at the height of his playing career, Greg Kragen was a tremendous player and Pro Bowl participant as a Bronco. One of the nicest, quietest guys one could ever meet, Kragen was an anchor in the defensive line from 1985-93 and was once described by rival head coach Marty Schottenheimer as “the best defensive tackle in pro football.”
Remember, everybody always says it takes an entire team to win a championship. Speaking from the inside, I can tell you that is absolutely true. All 53 guys contribute, and sometimes the undrafted free agent who barely made the team contributes THE PLAY that wins THE GAME.
It takes a team and organization working together to win, so never discount that late round draft choice or free agent just because you have not heard of him so far.
Remember, the future is what comes after “so far.”
Tags: Byron Chamberlain, Karl Mecklenburg, NFL Draft, Tom Nalen, Tyron Braxton
All great info into our history as usual, but regardless of all the jewels that can be found in later rounds or undrafted even, I for one can’t wait for us to have the ability to have a shot at drafting a game changer type of player with the #2 pick, and I’m not talking a guy who can win you a game here and there with a play here and there, I’m talking about getting a guy who can take the game on their shoulders days in days out, and be the game changer that leads your team’s turnaround, and in his first year too.
That’s the possibilities I’m excited about and who could blame me since the last time we had a pick anywhere that high was in 1991, so even so I hear you loud and clear that we can potentially do well with every pick, even undrafted players, nothing compares to that #2 pick to me, other than the #1 pick.
What I keep sensing is that some in the organization are either trying to prepare us in case we trade down the #2 pick, or if the pick we make doesn’t turn out, not to worry about it too much as there are many others to get it done, or an undrafted jewel may be the ticket.
To all that I say, don’t mess this #2 pick up, just plain as that…
Shannon Sharpe, who just made the soon to be enshrined 2011 HOF class was a 7th round selection also. Late round selections are a key factor to making a team flourish. never under-estimate a late round pick or even an undrafted rookie. He might be a diamond in the rough, and it`s those diomonds that can help you and take a team to the next level.
The draft isn`t to far off. This blog is going to take off like a bat out of hell a month before the draft . We`ll see alot of repeats in the next months ahead. I`ll keep on repeating Fairley or Dareus. We need that stud of a DT like fish need water to breath. It`s that crucial for us.
I`m going to make a statement here that just might very well happen. Of course this can take place only if a new CBA gets done. If a new CBA is agreed upon and signed. Wouldn`t it be a cool thing to see if the Panthers go and make their decision and sign the player that they want to pick at #1 overall days before the draft even starts. It`s happened in the past. You never know. Then we can find out who Carolina chose and the Bronco`s can hone in on who they really want. Kind of exciting to see what happens.
What a delightful trip down memory lane! I’m sure looking forward to when some of that glory comes back to the Orange and Blue.
Great read Jim, cant wait to read your book too. Absolutely Rod Smith is the great all time undrafted free agent wide receiver. One of my all time favorite greatest Bronco player next to my boy Davis. Guys like that show that no matter the odds hard work and dedication to your path can lead you anywhere.
Thats what I truly love about this game this sport at all levels or any sport for that matter. It shows how you can reach your goals on the big stage. So that means get your stage right so you can shine on your stage. Its the people who have been told they cant do it that always do it best. Its what I hope happens with our boy Tebow.
GO BRONCOS
man i leave for 2 weeks and already peterson has been forgot about. he was the talk of the town when i last posted now lookin thru the blogs he’s barely mentioned. its all fairley and bowers now. well i’m sticking with peterson as my pick (tho if we pick fairley that would be okay). i do not, however, want bowers. too much of a question mark to me. maybe if we had the 11th pick. but not the 2nd. peterson to me would just provide a spark like no other. i also think carolina will take fairley leaving us with no choice. well we could trade down i guess for more picks. anyway i cant wait for the draft. this waiting kills me…..
by the way, great article. love going down memory lane. hearing those names brings back some good memories. well some bad ones too i guess. but theres nothing like the old times.
70 more days until 2011 nfl draft.
Glad to see labor talks have gone to mediation. Maybe something will get done. At least they are talking again.
Really good news. Sounds like the NFL and the NFLPA are going to lock themselves behind closed doors until they reach some sort of agreement. At least agree on one or two things to get the ball rolling, like the rookie scale and come to an agreement with the players salaries for god sakes. Get it started and the rest will follow. SIGN CHAMP!
Looks like they are all going to negociate for 7 straight days. Sounds promising to me.
NOT ONLY HAVE SOME OF THE GREATEST NFL PLAYERS BEEN LATE ROUND PICKS LIKE TERRELL DAVIS, SHARPE,TOM BRADY ETC.
BUT UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS(JAMES HARRISON) CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT AS WELL.
Thanks Jim for the great reminder of all the great late picks. Its seems like an internaty since we had a good draft, (Shanny’s last draft). I say that we offer to retire Champ’s # as part of his new deal.Elway is driving us for the winning score!
If we sign Champ. use 4 picks on D a couple of FAs and the return of DOOM our D could be top 10-12.
i hope Champ is reading the blogs
CHAMP BAILEY IS THE BEST BRONCO CB EVER. I HAVE CHAMP’S ROOKIE CARD. HE LOOKS WAY BETTER IN A BRONCO UNI.
I am not sure what to make of this last hour agreement to have a mediator at the table. It could very well be the Players Union way to counter the claim filed the other day by the Owners that the Players Union was not negotiating in good faith… So I will totally hold back any sort of enthusiasm for now. Probably just a move to make sure an effort is seemingly being made by both sides to negotiate to avert any legal repercussions later on that could arise from not doing so, or maybe not…
The only reason an agreement has not been met is simply because of the lawyer propaganda. If it was just players and owners at the table doing all the negotiating than this would be a non issue. nba cba is almost up to.
We`ll know by monday of next week if this is just a fasaude or the real deal with these CBA negociations starting tomorrow. I`m going to be optimistic with caution in mind.
Lious Wright was as awesome CB as Champ Bailey. I love Champ, but Wright was freaken incredible as well. Just saying.
By the way, SIGN CHAMP!!
I did say they should have a mediator so I am pleased to see them taking my advice. Of course both Dawkins and Foxworth are on the players Exec Committee so I hope that means that maturity prevails and we get to an agreement.
Sign Champ!!!
Go get’em John,John ElFoxway!
Go Broncos!!!
Possibly one of the GREATEST Undrafted players that everybody seems to forget is my man MR. ROD SMITH!!!!!!!
I love all the late round and undrafted players because they play there heart out and try there hardest we got some good players last year late like sidquan and mccarthy I think xanders is a good GM he knows talent and with a great coach like John Fox we can really do some damage…
MarshMelo15, you need to read more carefully before getting all heated up about your man Rod, this is what Jim said about Rod Smith above:
But Watson and Taylor were not even the top Bronco free agent signings at their own position. That honor has to go-it just has to go-to Rod Smith. Completely unheralded coming out of college, Smith became a vital cog in two world championship teams, catching a pivotal touchdown from John Elway in Super Bowl XXXIII, and he is pro football’s all-time leader as an undrafted free agent in receptions, reception yardage, and reception touchdowns. A genuine all-time great.
Elway pays attention to the fans and I know he pays attention to Woody, so I was real glad to see him write an article today on the need to sign Bailey. Here are some exerpts:
Elway, who has become The Duke of Twitter, posted Thursday that the Broncos resumed negotiations with the unrestricted free agent and “we’ve been working with Champ Bailey’s representative this week on a new contract, which is an important priority for us. Our conversations have been constructive, and we’ll continue those talks in the hope that we can reach an agreement.”
This is the first serious player personnel test of the Elway- Brian Xanders-John Fox regime. Can the triumvirate persuade the 10-time Pro Bowler to stay in his own backyard with a chance to become Champ in more than name only here?
Get it done, Broncos. And tweet that, John.
The Broncos must have new defensive ends and tackles, inside and outside linebackers, strong and weak safeties and another cornerback.
They can’t afford to lose Champ too. They can afford to pay him.
Bailey’s return would be critical to the team, symbolic to the community.
When, first, Elway was introduced as the club’s vice president, and, later, when Fox was brought in, both hemmed, then hawed, about Bailey. They now know he is vital to a defensive resurgence.
Bailey may drop a step, but his step already was way ahead. In matchups against two Pro Bowl receivers last season, he kept Dwayne Bowe from catching the ball even once, and limited Larry Fitzgerald to three catches for only 19 yards. One statistical sports service stated Bailey was the second-most effective cornerback against the pass in the entire league in 2010. Most teams wouldn’t even throw in his direction.
THERE IS NO REASON IN THE WORLD THAT BAILEY CAN’T BE RE-SIGNED, NOT EVEN MONEY!
Bowlen and Ellis blew it once by walking out of the negotiations, now it’s gonna cost Bowlen more, but it was his mistake, he must eat it now and move forward with Bailey on board for the rest of his carreer, period, no excuses, no b.s., JUST DO IT.
And this is for the ones who think this comes out as news:
In a development that was the worst surprise since the endings of M. Night Shyamalan movies, Fox said this week that the Broncos will return to the 4-3 defense that Josh McDaniels abandoned in 2009.
BTW, anyone notice the triumvirate mention by Woody? Hi Woody!
I welcome back the 4-3 defense with open arms.
Get that deal done to SIGN CHAMP!! GO BRONCOS!!
I would like to reconsider who I want in this up and coming draft.
First I would like to get Nick Fairley and if he is gone then I would like to get Patrick Peterson I no a lot of people on here disagree with that but in terms of team needs its right there with DT’s. I do not however want Bowers we already have 1 possibly 2 good defensive ends and don’t need another.
Mikeyb,
Bowers is probably 3rd on my list behind Fairley and Dareus, so I see what you’re saying about how we already have Doom and Ayers so we don’t need another DE. But truthfully you can never have enough quality ends. Remember how the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl a few years ago? They had 4 or 5 really good ends that they would rotate to get pressure on Brady, keeping themselves fresh the whole time because of the rotation. So if Fox-Elway think Bowers is the best fit, I will support the decision. Top pass rushers are extremely rare, so if you are lucky enough to have several of them on your roster you can really disrupt some offenses.
Yes but this last superbowl showed me something and where the NFL is headed Arron Rodgers did a really good job against the blitz with short quick passes. Now I am expecting more offensives to start drawing up plays like that next year especially if our defense is going to be built around stopping the run like everyone wants it would not hurt to have one hell of a secondary.
The point I am trying to make is Fairley if he is there if not have Peterson who can play saftey/CB
Mikey, I feel the same way about our draft options, I’d rather draft a good OLB that is good at blitzing instead of another DE(using one of our 2nd round picks invested on it). Doom and Ayers should be more than solid, I like hunter too as a back up and if we get Fairly, that would be a dangerous mix on that front 7! Ayers has a smell for the running plays, hope he keeps it up!
Fairley, if not Peterson. He is just too talented to let him pass, and we eventually will have to find a top-of-the line player to fill Champ’s spot, either this year or in 4 years. I’d give this guy a chance to work for that spot!
I’d actually prefer Dareus(haven’t seen him play, heard is more than solid) over Bowers, no DE with our 2nd pick please… So my priority list looks like this with that pick.
1. Fairley
2. Peterson
3. Dareus
If we get Peterson,Stephen Paea in the 2nd round at DT, he would help stoping the run. Bannan and Paea should be a nice pair(Vickerson would be a decent back up).
If we are lucky enough to have a 2nd round pick for Orton I’d get a S and a OLB, go for TE Luke Stocker on the 3rd round and get another LB and a FB with later picks! Want to see Spencer play LB again, just to see if he is up to the task, we could use him in the 3 sides of the ball. After what I saw last season(Injury plagued season for Spencer) an extra FB would not be a bad addition with a late round pick!
Bring back Champ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Dawkins contract is over too, if we get either Black or Moore at S he would be able to mentor them… At least Dawk is not worst than an average S right now.
So bring back Champ, Dawkins, Harris, Prater! I think they will be FA too, right?
This would be my plan for this offseason, hope Dawk doesn’t ask for a bunch of money, we now what he worths right now!
The thing that scares me about Bowers, is why all of sudden did he start to produce in his last year of college? It reminds me of people who produce in a “contract year” just to get a big signing and then fail miserably once they got the money. I am not saying Bowers cant be or wont be good in the NFL, I just have my concerns. Fairley would definitely help out our D-Line and I think would be a great asset next to Bannan but I think Carolina takes Fairley. My pick started out as Peterson and will remain Peterson, I have seen this kid play CB and he is electric, his reads are phenomenal, and his possesses a great combination of size and speed. Not to mention is is an awesome KR/PR.
Round 2 will go to Moore FS UCLA and then Paea DT Oregon State
Round 3 I am going with Stocker TE Tennessee (If available) if not one of the many LBs available.
I heard ya Cody!
My dream draft(s) would be this
1st round Nick Fairley DT
2nd round Martez Wilson ILB
2nd round Rahiem Moore/ Ahmad Black depending on who is available.
3rd round Best TE available
Or if Fairley is gone this would do nicely also.
1st round Patrick Peterson
2nd round Stephen Paea
2nd round Best ILB available
3rd round best TE available
Wow they did it, and God answered the Bronco’s prayers.
BAILEY TO STAY IN DENVER!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats to future Hall of Famer and current Denver Bronco Champ Bailey for signing a 4 year deal.
Finally we keep a great player in Orange and Blue.
Great Job John Elway and John Fox.
So Happy! This takes the sting out of losing #15 from the NUggets.
YYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!! I AM A VERY HAPPY FAN RIGHT NOW! I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TOO…
NOW IT WOULD NOT MEAN AS MUCH TO DRAFT PETERSON WITH THE 2ND OVERALL PICK AS IF CHAMP WAS GONE, BUT STILL BEING MY OTHER OPTION IF FAIRLEYS GONE 1ST.
#7, X-MAN, BOWLEN, ELLIS AND FOX, THANX FOR GIVING US SOME GOOD NEWS, WE REALLY WANTED CHAMP BACK, THANX FOR THE EFFORT, I FEEL VERY PROUD TO BE A BRONCO RIGHT NOW! YOU HAVE NO IDEA(WEL, ACTUALLY YOU MIGHT HAVE) HOW MUCH THIS MEAN TO BRONCOS COUNTRY! GET FAIRLEY ON THE DRAFT AND WE WOULD BE GOING ON THE RIGHT PATH!