Best draft picks in Denver Broncos history
Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Denver Broncos history using career Weighted Approximate Value (wAV), a metric developed by Pro-Football-Reference.com to estimate career impact. The ranking also lists individual accolades such as Pro Bowl selections, First-Team All-Pro honors, and total years as a starter. Players were assigned to their originally drafted teams, excluding any draft-day trades. Data is as of April 2026.
#10. Louis Wright (1975, Round 1, Pick 17)
- Position: DB
- Career wAV: 84
- Pro Bowls: 5
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 166
- Seasons as Starter: 12
#9. Lyle Alzado (1971, Round 4, Pick 79)
- Position: DE
- Career wAV: 85
- Pro Bowls: 2
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 196
- Seasons as Starter: 14
#8. Jay Cutler (2006, Round 1, Pick 11)
- Position: QB
- Career wAV: 86
- Pro Bowls: 1
- First-Team All-Pro: 0
- Games Played: 153
- Seasons as Starter: 10
#7. Randy Gradishar (1974, Round 1, Pick 14)
- Position: LB
- Career wAV: 88
- Pro Bowls: 7
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 145
- Seasons as Starter: 9
#6. Karl Mecklenburg (1983, Round 12, Pick 310)
- Position: LB
- Career wAV: 93
- Pro Bowls: 6
- First-Team All-Pro: 3
- Games Played: 180
- Seasons as Starter: 10
#5. Ron McDole (1961, Round 4, Pick 27)
- Position: DE
- Career wAV: 97
- Pro Bowls: 2
- First-Team All-Pro: 1
- Games Played: 240
- Seasons as Starter: 15
#4. Tom Nalen (1994, Round 7, Pick 218)
- Position: C
- Career wAV: 102
- Pro Bowls: 5
- First-Team All-Pro: 2
- Games Played: 194
- Seasons as Starter: 11
#3. Von Miller (2011, Round 1, Pick 2)
- Position: LB
- Career wAV: 105
- Pro Bowls: 8
- First-Team All-Pro: 3
- Games Played: 203
- Seasons as Starter: 10
#2. Merlin Olsen (1962, Round 1, Pick 2)
- Position: DT
- Career wAV: 116
- Pro Bowls: 14
- First-Team All-Pro: 5
- Games Played: 208
- Seasons as Starter: 15
#1. Paul Krause (1964, Round 12, Pick 89)
- Position: DB
- Career wAV: 119
- Pro Bowls: 8
- First-Team All-Pro: 3
- Games Played: 226
- Seasons as Starter: 15
