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Denver Broncos: Ranking top 5 draft classes in team history

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 14: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 and wide receiver Eddie Royal #19 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after defeating the San Diego Chargers 39-38 during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 14, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Cutler connected with Royal for the final touchdown of the game and the ensuing game winning two point conversion in the final minute. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER - SEPTEMBER 14: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 and wide receiver Eddie Royal #19 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after defeating the San Diego Chargers 39-38 during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 14, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Cutler connected with Royal for the final touchdown of the game and the ensuing game winning two point conversion in the final minute. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Louis Wright
DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 30: Cornerback Louis Wright #20 of the Denver Broncos looks on from the line of scrimmage across from wide receiver Louis Lipps #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a playoff game at Mile High Stadium on December 30, 1984, in Denver, Colorado. The Steelers defeated the Broncos 24-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

2. 1975

The 1975 draft checks in at the No. 2 spot. This was a draft class that landed two members of the team’s Ring of Fame in Louis Wright and Rick Upchurch.

Wright was a true shutdown cornerback at a time when that term didn’t really exist. He would routinely take away the opposition’s No.1 wide receiver and he was a big reason the team reached its first Super Bowl.

Upchurch was a wide receiver but where he really made his mark was as a kick and punt returner, where he was one of the best in the business.

Later in that draft, the Broncos also found defensive starters in Rubin Carter and Steve Foley. Carter spent his entire 12-year career in Denver, playing in 166 games for the team.

Foley played in 150 games for the team and to this day is the team’s all-time leader in career interceptions with 44. Though he never made a Pro Bowl, he was an All-Pro selected in 1978.

All four of these players helped the team go from one that had never made the postseason to a competitive team toward the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The 1975 class was very good and you can even make an argument that it was the best in team history. But there is one that was better.

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