For a franchise with three Super Bowl titles and eight appearances, the Denver Broncos historically struggle in the NFL Draft. This year, Denver holds the 15th overall selection. Fans pray general manager John Elway corrects his recent draft day struggles and lands a stud who won't find his name on this list in the future.
While this list only features first round selections, second and third round draft picks were considered. Since the turn of the century, Denver's second and third round selections yield an increasing number of busts worthy of consideration. Specifically, Montee Ball (2013), Alphonso Smith (2009), and Maurice Clarett (2005) all flamed out after less than three seasons in Denver.
Five spots didn't offer enough space to include all of Denver's poor selections. For instance, the Broncos drafted quarterback Tommy Maddox with the 25th overall pick in 1992. In two seasons in Denver, Maddox threw six touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Broncos traded him to the Rams for a fourth round selection.
In 2001, Denver selected cornerback Willie Middlebrooks with the 24th overall pick. The Minnesota product spent four years with the team, earning only two starts and intercepting no passes. Middlebrooks makes Denver's recent selections of mediocre players like Garrett Boles, Shane Ray, and Sylvester Williams look like home runs.
Now, on to the top five draft busts in Broncos history.
5. Jarvis Moss, DE Florida
In two seasons as a starter at Florida, Moss produced 81 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks. The Broncos believed Moss could thrive alongside Elvis Dumervil and selected the 6-7 defensive end with the 17th overall pick.
As a rookie, Moss earned one start and only appeared in six games before suffering a season-ending leg injury in practice. He finished the 2007 season with 12 tackles and one sack.
Over the next two and a half seasons, Moss appeared in 28 more games for Denver. During that time, he recorded 2.5 more sacks and 12 more tackles. Midway through the 2010 season, the Broncos released Moss, and he signed with the Oakland Raiders. After 2011, Moss never appeared in another NFL game.
4. Steve Schindler, G Boston College
The Broncos used the 18th overall pick in the 1977 NFL Draft on Schindler. Over his two seasons with the team, Schindler appeared in 28 games but only made four starts. After the 1978 season, Schindler disappeared from the NFL landscape.
3. Marcus Nash, WR Tennessee
In his final season at Tennessee, Nash recorded 76 receptions for 1,170 yards and 13 touchdowns. Denver selected Nash with the 30th overall pick in the 1998 draft, nine spots after Minnesota selected Randy Moss.
Nash played in eight games as a rookie, making four catches for 76 yards. After appearing in two games the following season, Nash found himself headed to Miami in exchange for fellow first round bust, running back John Avery.
Nash did not appear in an NFL regular season game after the 1999 season.
2. Paxton Lynch, QB Memphis
In 2016, the Broncos pegged Lynch as the team's long-term successor to Peyton Manning. In his final year at Memphis, Lynch completed 66.8 percent of his pass attempts for 3,776 yards, 28 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Enticed by Lynch's height (6-7) and arm strength, Elway took the Memphis product with the 26th overall pick.
As a rookie, Lynch failed to beat out 2015 seventh round pick Trevor Siemian for the starting job. In the two starts and three appearances he did make, Lynch threw for 165.7 yards per game, two touchdowns, and one interception.
The following season, Lynch also started two games but failed to win full-time control of the offense. Siemian started ten games, and Brock Osweiler returned to start four games.
In early September of 2018, the Broncos cut Lynch. While he spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, Lynch did not appear in an NFL regular season game over the past two seasons.
1. Ted Gregory, DT/NT Syracuse
Denver used the 26th overall pick on Gregory in 1988. However, when head coach Dan Reeves met the Syracuse product, he realized the defensive lineman stood several inches shorter than his listed height of 6-1. Reeves estimated that Gregory was closer to 5-9. Knee injuries from Gregory's college days made the situation worse.
After Gregory injured his knee in training camp of his rookie season, Denver traded the interior defensive lineman to the New Orleans Saints. After three games with the Saints, Gregory blew out his knee and never played in the NFL again.
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