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Revealing the 5 best second-round picks in Denver Broncos history

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Clinton Portis #26 of the Denver Broncos runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on September 22, 2002, at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos won 28-23. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
DENVER - SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Clinton Portis #26 of the Denver Broncos runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on September 22, 2002, at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos won 28-23. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Derek Wolfe
Nov 19, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) attempts to rally the crowd in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

. . 2012. Derek Wolfe. DE. 5. player. 830

The Broncos selected Derek Wolfe with the No. 36 overall pick of the 2012 draft. John Elway traded down a few slots to acquire an earlier pick in the fourth round and selected the defensive end out of Cincinnati.

At the time, the pick was met with mixed reviews as Wolfe was not exactly a dominant player in college. He did have 9.5 sacks as a senior so Elway was betting on his upside and Wolfe was able to blossom into a terrific NFL player.

Wolfe was never the best player on the team as the Broncos had Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware and the ‘No Fly Zone’ secondary during Wolfe’s tenure, but he was always the unsung hero of the defense.

He finished his career with the Broncos with 33 sacks and 299 total tackles, but it was the energy and the leadership that he brought with him to every game that made him a great teammate and an important building block in what eventually became a championship team.

Wolfe left in free agency and signed with the Baltimore Ravens following the 2020 season, but if ever there were a candidate to sign a one-day contract with the Broncos and then retire, it would be Wolfe.

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