PHOTOS: Top 10 draft surprises in Broncos history
May 8, 2014
1. Tim Tebow, QB, first round, No. 25 overall, 2010: Then-coach Josh McDaniels had the audacity to believe he could correct Tebow’s passing deficiencies. Four months later, McDaniels gave Kyle Orton a one-year, $8.8 million contract extension. Tebow get one chance to play for current coach John Fox, in 2011 – and he won six in a row to lift the Broncos to the AFC West title, then stunned the football world by passing for 316 yards to upset Pittsburgh in a first-round playoff game. (John Leyba/ The Denver Post) ( BRONCOS_RAIDERS_JL3102.jpg )
2. Maurice Clarett, RB, third round, No. 101 overall, 2005: Mike Shanahan had the audacity to believe he could rehabilitate the controversial Clarett, who was out of shape after sitting out a year. Clarett was cut following his rookie training camp and never played in the NFL. (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images) ( S0914_OHIO_WASHST_TP047.JPG )
3. Jay Cutler, QB, first round, No. 11 overall, 2006: QB Jake Plummer was coming off his career-best season in leading the Broncos to the AFC championship. But Shanahan traded up from No. 29 to No. 15, then to No. 11 to take Cutler in a draft when Vince Young went No. 3 and Matt Leinart was taken No. 4.(Karl Gehring/The Denver Post) ( BRONCOS_STEELERS_xxxx )
4. Mike Anderson, RB, sixth round, No. 189 overall, 2000: I messed up by not putting this pick on the Broncos’ top 10 draft list. Anderson was a former Marine who would turn 27 early in his rookie season, an age when many NFL running backs start slowing down. But four years as a Marine must have helped him as a RB, for he rushed for 1,487 yards and 15 TDs on 5.0 yards per carry to earn the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He had another 1,000-yard season for the Broncos in 2005.(Hyoung Chang/ The Denver Post) ( BRONCOS )
5. Kenny Walker, DE, eighth round, No. 200 overall, 1991: Although a consensus All American and Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year while at Nebraska, Walker was snubbed by the NFL through seven rounds partly because he was deaf. Dan Reeves stepped up and gave Walker a chance. Walker had 4 ½ sacks in two years with the Broncos.(John Leyba/ The Denver Post) ( image0000081A )
6. Paul Toviessi, DE, second round, No 51 overall, 2001: This was a complete reach pick, demonstrating Shanahan's failure as a GM. Shanahan was a great coach, but he often tried to project marginal or injured college players. Toviessi was hurt in training camp and never produced. (Kathryn Scott Osler/ The Denver Post) ( BRONCOSMINICAMP1.jpg )
7. Tommy Maddox, QB, first round, No. 25 overall, 1992 This one didn't go over well with incumbent John Elway. Maddox was a highly touted prospect, but the Broncos had much greater needs than a clipboard carrier for the future Hall-of-Famer, Elway. (The Denver Post Archive) ( Tommy Maddox of the Denver Broncos )
8. Jason Elam, K, third round, No. 70 overall, 1993: Who takes a kicker this high in the draft? The Broncos. And Elam turned out to be a three-time Pro-Bowler and record-setting kicker.(John Leyba/ The Denver Post) ( Broncos_Raiders853 )
9. Willie Middlebrooks, DB, first round, No. 24 overall, 2001: Another example of the Broncos trying to be too cute. The idea was that Middlebrooks would be coached up by Broncos. He played one full season as a starter, and never picked off a pass ina five-year NFL career. (Hyoung Chang/ The Denver Post) ( BRONCOS )
10. Brock Osweiler, QB, second round, No. 57 overall, 2012: Considered a surprise in the second round after the Broncos signed Peyton Manning. The team wanted insurance in case Manning's neck didn't heal, but Osweiler stands a chance of never starting a game with Denver when a linebacker was needed in the 2012 draft.(Photo By Joe Amon/The Denver Post) ( SP29FBNBRONX_JA37477 )
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