Denver Broncos: Top 15 first-round draft picks of all time
Admittedly, all the top three players were worthy of the No. 1 spot on this list. Floyd Little and Randy Gradishar made excellent cases for the honor, but I just couldn’t imagine giving it to anyone else besides one of the most disruptive pass rushers in today’s NFL.
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The No. 2 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Von Miller has spent his entire professional career terrorizing opposing passers. In seven seasons, he’s tallied 83.5 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and even a couple of touchdowns. Oh, and then there’s the Super Bowl 50 MVP award.
It’s not just the production, though. Miller has asserted himself as the voice of the Denver defense, serving as a leader and mentor for a defense that hasn’t lost its effectiveness over the years.
Although things have gone south in terms of the team’s overall success, the defense has maintained its level of dominance.
A big part of that is Miller and his elite edge rushing abilities. He’s been an All-Pro and Pro Bowler in all but one on his seasons in the Mile High City — that year, he missed nearly half the Broncos’ games between a suspension and late-season ACL tear. It’s unheard of to make that type of impact consistently for so long. If it continues, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is absolutely in his future.
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Hence, Miller’s selection as the best first-round pick in Denver history.