The 2015 NFL Draft is mere days away, which means it's time to turn back the clock and take a look at the selections which helped make the Denver Broncos the model franchise they are today. Here's our list of The 5 Best Draft Picks In Denver Broncos History.
5. Steve Atwater (#20 overall in 1989)
A ferocious hitter if there ever was one, Atwater launched himself like a rocket into ball carriers with glee. People like to say Ronnie Lott was the best secondary tackler of the early-mid 90s. People are wrong.
4. Lyle Alzado (#79 in 1971)
The end of Alzado's story is a tragic one, but there's no denying the havoc he caused when he burst into opposing backfields and trucked running backs and quarterbacks indiscriminately. Alzado was the inaugural member of the Orange Crush defense, and his on-field accomplishments shouldn't be colored by the circumstances of his death.
3. Randy Gradishar (#14 in 1974)
Gradishar was the rock for the Orange Crush defense -- the guy who made the rest of the unit's talented players that much better. Seven Pro Bowls, one Defensive Player of the Year award, and two All-Pro selections are just the tip of the iceberg for a guy who quietly embodied grit and determination with the Broncos.
2. Rick Upchurch (#95 in 1975)
Upchurch singlehandedly revolutionized the NFL return game, bringing all-world talent to special teams while absolutely eviscerating the second- and third-string defenders trying to stop him. Opposing teams had to redefine how they approached kick coverage to contain Upchurch. He's the original home-run return threat, and that's enough to warrant his high placement on this list.
1. Terrell Davis (#196 in 1995)
It's a travesty that Davis is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A sixth-round pick who gave John Elway the running game he needed to secure his Super Bowl ring, Davis is one member on a shortlist of the best late-round draft steals of all time. With a 2,000-yard season to his credit and plenty of other highlight-reel moments to draw back upon, Terrell was as elite as they come in his prime.
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