Denver Broncos: Top 15 first-round draft picks of all time
It’s hard to ignore the fact that Otis Armstrong didn’t have one of the more consistent careers among Broncos running backs. Despite playing eight seasons in the Mile High City, he was the full-time starter in only three of them. Still, the impact he had was undeniable.
Just look back at his sophomore 1974 season, during which he was an unstoppable force. Armstrong won the rushing title with 1,407 yards on the ground, struck pay dirt a total of 12 times and even pitched in as an exceptional return man. His 5.3 yards per carry and 100.5 yards per game were among the best single-season rushing figures in Denver history.
That All-Pro effort essentially earned him a spot on this list all by itself. Unfortunately, it’s almost all downhill from there. He took a trip to the Pro Bowl in 1976 and helped the Broncos reach the Super Bowl a year later, but began to fall out of favor. When the 1980 season came to a close, he decided to call it a career.
Although the overall impact of his career is questionable, Armstrong made his mark in Denver. His 1974 campaign was one of the best the Broncos ever saw by a running back. For that, he sits comfortably here at No. 12.