Denver Broncos history: Team has double-dipped with first two picks in draft before

Back-to-back corners in 2005

It would be 36 years before the Broncos began a draft with two players at the same position and in 2005, like 1969, it was two cornerbacks. It was also with their second and third-round picks as the team didn’t have a first-rounder.

The Broncos had a good team in 2004, finishing 10-6 after beating the Indianapolis Colts in the season finale. But one week later, those same two teams met in the Wild Card round of the playoffs and the Colts boat raced the Broncos.

Peyton Manning threw for 457 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-24 win and that offseason, Mike Shanahan decided he needed more help in the secondary.

In the second round, the team would select Darrent Williams out of Oklahoma State.

Blossoming into one of the league’s best young cornerbacks after just two seasons with the team, Williams’ life was tragically cut short on New Year’s Day in 2007. He had six interceptions in two seasons with the team and was a tremendous cover corner.

In the third round, the team brought in Karl Paymah out of Washington State. Paymah played for the team for four seasons and managed to hang on for a total of six seasons in the league, spending time with three other teams after leaving Denver following the conclusion of his first contract.

Paymah was a decent extra cornerback but was far from anything special. Much like the picks made in 1969, the Broncos found one star and one player that was average at best. It’s a shame Williams’ full potential was never realized.