The Denver Broncos have a rich history of first-round picks in the NFL Draft, spanning all the way back to the franchise’s inauguration in 1961. Many of the Broncos’ most notable acquisitions throughout history happened through trades, but the NFL Draft has always helped lay the foundation for one of the NFL’s most successful franchises.
Denver Broncos First-Round Draft Picks Throughout History
Across their team history, Denver has made four Hall of Fame selections in the first round. Upon joining the AFL in 1961, the Broncos hit the ground running with three Hall of Fame selections in their first seven drafts. They’d later draft Steve Atwater in 1989, bringing their total to four.
Denver’s most recognizable Round 1 Hall of Famer, however, is a player they traded for rather than selected outright. In the 1983 NFL Draft, Stanford QB John Elway was viewed as the next QB star and a surefire first-overall pick. However, he refused to play for the Baltimore Colts, who owned the first pick. Ultimately, the Colts dealt Elway to Denver after picking him, and Elway would go on to become an MVP and a two-time Super Bowl champ.
2024
- Bo Nix | Pick 12
QB, Oregon
2023
The Broncos traded the fifth pick to the Seattle Seahawks.
2022
The Broncos traded the ninth pick to the Seattle Seahawks.
2021
- Patrick Surtain II | Pick 9
DB, Alabama
2020
- Jerry Jeudy | Pick 15
WR, Alabama
2019
- Noah Fant | Pick 20
TE, Iowa
2018
- Bradley Chubb | Pick 5
DE, North Carolina State
2017
- Garett Bolles | Pick 20
OT, Utah
2016
- Paxton Lynch | Pick 26
QB, Memphis
2015
- Shane Ray | Pick 23
DE, Missouri
2014
- Bradley Roby | Pick 31
DB, Ohio State
2013
- Sylvester Williams | Pick 28
DT, North Carolina
2012
The Broncos traded the 25th pick to the New England Patriots.
2011
- Von Miller | Pick 2
LB, Texas A&M
2010
- Demaryius Thomas | Pick 22
WR, Georgia Tech - Tim Tebow | Pick 25
QB, Florida
2009
- Knowshon Moreno | Pick 12
RB, Georgia - Robert Ayers | Pick 18
DE, Tennessee
2008
- Ryan Clady | Pick 12
OT, Boise State
2007
- Jarvis Moss | Pick 17
DE, Florida
2006
- Jay Cutler | Pick 11
QB, Vanderbilt
2005
The Broncos traded the 25th pick to the Washington Commanders.
2004
- D.J. Williams | Pick 17
LB, Miami (FL)
2003
- George Foster | Pick 20
OT, Georgia
2002
- Ashley Lelie | Pick 19
WR, Hawaii
2001
- Willie Middlebrooks | Pick 24
DB, Minnesota
2000
- Deltha O’Neal | Pick 15
DB, California
1999
- Al Wilson | Pick 31
LB, Tennessee
1998
- Marcus Nash | Pick 30
WR, Tennessee
1997
- Trevor Pryce | Pick 28
DT, Clemson
1996
- John Mobley | Pick 15
LB, Kutztown (PA)
1995
The Broncos traded the 11th pick to the Cincinnati Bengals.
1994
The Broncos traded the 18th pick to the Minnesota Vikings.
1993
- Dan Williams | Pick 11
DE, Toledo
1992
- Tommy Maddox | Pick 25
QB, UCLA
1991
- Mike Croel | Pick 4
LB, Nebraska
1990
The Broncos forfeited the right to their first-round selection due to selecting Bobby Humphrey in the 1989 Supplemental Draft.
1989
- Steve Atwater* | Pick 20
DB, Arkansas
1988
- Ted Gregory | Pick 26
NT, Syracuse
1987
- Ricky Nattiel | Pick 27
WR, Florida
1986
The Broncos traded the 21st pick to the Cincinnati Bengals.
1985
- Steve Sewell | Pick 26
RB, Oklahoma
1984
The Broncos traded the 19th pick to the Baltimore Colts.
1983
- Chris Hinton | Pick 4
OT, Northwestern
1982
- Gerald Willhite | Pick 21
RB, San Jose State
1981
- Dennis Smith | Pick 15
DB, USC
1980
The Broncos traded the 20th pick to the New Orleans Saints.
1979
- Kelvin Clark | Pick 22
OT, Nebraska
1978
- Don Latimer | Pick 27
NT, Miami (FL)
1977
- Steve Schindler | Pick 18
G, Boston College
1976
- Tom Glassic | Pick 15
G, Virginia
1975
- Louis Wright | Pick 17
DB, San Jose State
1974
- Randy Gradishar | Pick 14
LB, Ohio State
1973
- Otis Armstrong | Pick 9
RB, Purdue
1972
- Riley Odoms | Pick 5
TE, Houston
1971
- Marv Montgomery | Pick 12
OT, USC
1970
- Bobby Anderson | Pick 11
RB, Colorado
1969
The Broncos traded the ninth pick to the San Diego Chargers.
1968
The Broncos traded the fourth pick to the San Diego Chargers.
1967
- Floyd Little* | Pick 6
RB, Syracuse
1966
- Jerry Shay | Pick 4
DT, Purdue
1965
The Broncos traded the fourth pick in the AFL Draft to the New York Jets.
1964
- Bob Brown* | Pick 4
DT, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
1963
- Kermit Alexander | Pick 5
DB, UCLA
1962
- Merlin Olsen* | Pick 2
DT, Utah State
1961
- Bob Gaiters | Pick 4
HB, New Mexico State
*Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame