Denver Broncos 5 worst first-round picks of the last 20 years

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DENVER – OCTOBER 13: Willie Middlebrooks #23 of the Denver Broncos during a game against the Miami Dolphins on October 13, 2002 at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The Dolphins defeated the Broncos 24-22. (Photo by Josh Merwin/Getty Images) /

Denver Broncos top-5 draft busts in the last 20 years

3. Willie Middlebrooks, CB (2001, 24th overall)

The Denver Broncos’ search for star power at the cornerback position in the 2000s included a dart throw at Minnesota defensive back Willie Middlebrooks in the 2001 NFL Draft.

At 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, Middlebrooks was an intriguing talent coming from the Gophers program with four interceptions in three college seasons and a 1st-team All-Big Ten distinction in 2000.

Unfortunately, he broke his ankle at the end of his final season at Minnesota, and the Broncos took him in round one anyway.

Middlebrooks didn’t start a game through his first three seasons with Denver, and finished his four seasons with the Broncos with 70 total tackles and six passes defensed in 51 appearances, two of them starts.

He wound up with the San Francisco 49ers in 2005 when the Broncos traded for defensive end John Engelberger.

He came back to Denver briefly in 2006 but didn’t make it. He played a couple of seasons in Canada before retiring from football due to injury.

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