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Denver Broncos: Best and worst draft picks of the John Elway era

By Graham Tiedtke

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 18: Denver Broncos General manager and former player John Elway attends The 2018 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 18: Denver Broncos General manager and former player John Elway attends The 2018 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 18: Executive vice president and general manager John Elway of the Denver Broncos is recognized during the pregame ceremony as his jersey number is retired before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Sports Authority Field Field at Mile High on September 18, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

With the 2019 NFL Draft just around the corner, I take a look at the best and worst draft picks by John Elway as GM of the Denver Broncos.

As is the case with every team in every sport that holds a draft, there are always some draft picks that end up becoming good or great, and some that turn out to be bad selections. The Denver Broncos are no different.

When I think back to the pre-John Elway General Manager days, the worst draft class of the 2000s was definitely the 2007 draft. The Broncos had just four selections that year, one in each of the first four rounds.

They selected Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss with the seventeenth overall pick that year. Moss played six seasons in the league (four in Denver, two in Oakland). He recorded twelve tackles in just six games as a rookie.

For his career, Moss totaled just six sacks.

Defensive tackle Marcus Thomas was the final pick by the Broncos in the 2007 draft, and the third defensive lineman. Thomas spent his entire five-year career in Denver.

He totaled 146 total tackles, but just one sack in five seasons.

Thomas had a history of legal issues, while in college as well as in the NFL.

Offensive lineman Ryan Harris was undoubtedly the most successful of the Broncos 2007 draft. He played for the team from 2007-2010, 2012, and 2015 (the year the Broncos won Super Bowl 50).

He was a right tackle.

The Denver Broncos went 7-9 during that season and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. It ended up being close to the end of Mike Shanahan’s tenure at head coach, as he was fired after the following season.

Now, fast forward to John Elway’s tenure as General Manager. Which draft picks have turned out well for the team, and which have been the worst thus far?

For me, late-round draft picks wouldn’t be considered in the “worst draft picks” category. It is more like, which players drafted in the first four rounds did not pan out?

Let’s take a look, starting with the best, and ending with the worst.

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