The Denver Broncos have seen many undrafted players make an impact in the past. Whether it was Phillip Lindsay rushing for 1,000 yards twice in three seasons, or Duke Ihenacho working his way into the starting lineup of a Super Bowl-bound team, Broncos history is littered with undrafted gems. Some of these gems became multi-time Pro Bowlers with Super Bowl rings and All-Pro selections, and some were simply gritty players who found a way to contribute any way they could.
With that said, it's impossible to include every undrafted Broncos great on a single list, so it's been narrowed down to the five greatest undrafted Broncos of all time.
Before jumping in, let's look at an honorable mention.
Denver Broncos top undrafted free agents of all time
Honorable Mention: Wesley Woodyard (2008-2013), LB
Woodyard barely missed the cut for this list, but do not be surprised if he shows up on someone else's list of undrafted Bronco greats. Undrafted out of Kentucky in 2008, Woodyard was not expected to do much, but like many undrafted legends, he made his mark on special teams. In his second season in the NFL in 2009, Woodyard was named the Broncos special teams captain. After waiting in the wings for a couple of seasons, Woodyard was named as a starting linebacker in 2011, a position he would hold for the remainder of his Broncos tenure.
Woodyard tallied 435 tackles during his Broncos tenure and served as a special teams or defensive captain for some very good teams in the early 2010s. 2013 was his last year as a Broncos, and he went on to play another six seasons with the Tennessee Titans before calling it a career. Woodyard never quite got the shine he deserved while he was in Denver, but Broncos Country knows just how important he was.
1. Rod Smith (1994-2007), WR
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. Rod Smith played all 14 of his NFL seasons with the Broncos, was a two-time All-Pro, led the league in receptions in 2001, posted eight 1,000-yard seasons, and won a couple of Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998. The franchise's all-time receiving leader went undrafted out of Missouri Southern in 1994, but Smith quickly made a name for himself. His first NFL catch was a game-winning "Hail Mary" contested by Hall of Fame corner Darrell Green. From there, Smith rose on the depth chart and became the top wideout in Denver's offense until he retired following the 2007 season.
Smith recorded at least 70 receptions in every season from 1997 to 2005. During that stretch, Smith posted two seasons with 100 or more receptions and six straight seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He is responsible for many great Broncos memories like his 80-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIII, and his 1,602-yard season in 2000, but something that gets lost in the conversation is his blocking prowess. He spent the entirety of his career clearing paths for the likes of Terrell Davis, Clinton Portis, and every other Shanahan back in a run-heavy offense. He famously did not record a catch in Super Bowl XXXII, and he famously did not care. He was the exact opposite of your typical diva star receiver, and he played with a chip on his shoulder that led him to the Broncos Ring of Fame.
Rod Smith finished his career with 11,389 receiving yards, over 2,000 yards more than the second all-time leading Broncos receiver, Demaryius Thomas. He was a legendary pass-catcher and one of the best blockers the position has ever seen. Smith is by far the greatest undrafted Bronco of all time, and he has a strong case to be named the greatest undrafted wideout in league history.
2. Chris Harris Jr. (2011-2019), CB
Another undrafted player, another guaranteed Ring of Famer. For almost a decade, Chris Harris Jr. made the Denver secondary a scary place to throw into. Undrafted in 2011 out of Kansas, Harris did not take long to make an impact in the NFL. From the get-go, Harris proved to be one of the league's premiere nickel corners, earning him a spot on the PFWA 2011 All-Rookie team. From there, "Strap" Harris would become one of the best corners in the league for about a five-year stretch.
After watching from the sidelines with a torn ACL as the Seahawks demolished the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, Harris returned to the field in 2014 for what would be the beginning of his prime. From 2014 to 2018, Harris was a true lockdown corner. He was selected to four Pro Bowls and named to the All-Pro team three times, including a First Team selection in 2016. His peak in the mid-2010s included an almost two-season stretch where he did not surrender a single touchdown.
Of course, Harris's greatest accomplishment as a Bronco is his Super Bowl 50 championship. Harris, along with Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, and Darian Stewart formed the historically great "No Fly Zone" that spear-headed the Broncos 2015 championship run. This very special secondary unit prided itself on covering receivers one-on-one, and Chris Harris Jr. was one of the best in the business.
It's no secret why Harris was selected to the NFL 2010's All-Decade Team. You can not tell the story of the Denver Broncos without mentioning Chris Harris. His ascension in the early 2010s symbolized a "passing of the torch" as Champ Bailey's career wound down, he formed one of the most lethal cornerback duos of all time with Aqib Talib, and his contributions to Denver's third Lombardi Trophy will never be forgotten. Harris is simply one of the greatest defensive backs of his era, can you believe he went undrafted?
3. C.J. Anderson (2013-2017), RB
C.J. Anderson may not have the same accolades as a guy like Chris Harris, but his contributions to those fantastic mid-2010s Broncos teams can not be understated. From his game-winning touchdown in the snow to beat the Patriots on Sunday Night Football to his monster 168-yard game in Arrowhead, Anderson has provided all types of fond memories for Broncos fans.
Undrafted out of California in 2013, C.J. Anderson first made a name for himself in the NFL when he took over as the starting running back for the injured Montee Ball in 2014. In just seven starts that season, Anderson totaled 1,163 yards from scrimmage, earning him his lone Pro Bowl selection. The following year in 2015, Anderson formed a dynamic backfield duo with Ronnie Hillman and helped guide a struggling offense to a Super Bowl victory. He struggled to match his regular season production from 2014, but his playoff run more than made up for it.
During the championship run, Anderson rushed for 234 yards and three touchdowns in Denver's three playoff games. His 100 total scrimmage yards and game-sealing touchdown in Super Bowl 50 locked his place in Broncos history.
Anderson only played two more seasons in Denver after Super Bowl 50, he broke 1,000 yards rushing in 2017 and spent the final years of his career with the Panthers, Rams, and Lions. His career in Denver wasn't as long or as dominant as some other players on this list, but without his peak in the mid-2010s, the Broncos may have one less trophy in the case.
4. Lionel Taylor (1960-1966), WR
Floyd Little often gets the glory for being the Broncos' first true superstar, but before "The Franchise", there was Lionel Taylor. Undrafted out of New Mexico Highlands in 1959, Taylor was signed as a linebacker by the Bears before signing with Denver in 1960 where he would become one of the greatest receivers in franchise history.
Taylor played in seven seasons for the Broncos from 1960 to 1966. During that span, Taylor put up four 1,000-yard seasons and two double-digit touchdown seasons. He led the league in receptions in five different years, was named All-AFL five times, and an AFL All-Star three times. As a brand-new franchise, the Broncos did not do too much winning in the early to mid-1960s. Thanks to this forgotten time, Taylor seems to get lost in the pages of football legends from that era, but he was a record-setting pioneer at the receiver position.
In 1961, Taylor became the first professional receiver to ever record 100 receptions in a season, and his 102.9 yards per game in 1960 is still a franchise record. When Taylor retired, he was far and away the franchise leader in receiving yards, and his 6,872 yards as a Bronco is still good enough for fourth all-time in the team record books.
Taylor played in an era of Broncos football that is often brushed aside when considering the teams' history. The franchise had not quite found its legs in the world of professional football, but Taylor was a bright light in the teams' rough beginning. He was the original undrafted Broncos gem, and may we never forget him.
5. Rich Karlis (1982-1988), K
Deciding who would get the last spot on this list was a tough call, but Rich Karlis takes the cake thanks to some legendary moments, being a member of two Super Bowl teams in the 1980s, and being the last bare-footed kicker to ever grace the game.
Unsurprisingly for a kicker, Karlis went undrafted out of Cincinnati in 1981. He signed with the Houston Oilers as an offseason/practice squad member before coming to Denver in 1982 where he would become a fixture at kicker during a very successful seven seasons. According toPro Football Reference, Karlis made about 73% of his field goals- a very respectable conversion rate for his era- and made almost 96% of his extra points during his Broncos tenure. In five of his seven seasons with Denver, Karlis made at least one field goal from 50 or more yards, an impressive distance for a 1980s-era kicker.
Of course, most Broncos fans remember Karlis from one moment and one moment only, his legendary game-winning field goal in the 1986 AFC Championship game. From John Elway's clutch throw on 3rd and 18 to Mark Jackson hauling in a laser in the endzone, all of the best moments from "The Drive" would have been forgotten if Karlis failed to convert the game-tying extra point and overtime field goal. He converted both of his final kicks in that game, and the most famous moment in Broncos history was solidified by Rich Karlis's barefoot.
After the 1988 season, Karlis spent the last two seasons of his career with the Vikings and Lions, but he will always be remembered for forging legendary moments with the 1980s Broncos. Like everyone else on this list, Karlis went from undrafted to a Denver legend. With the 2023 season on the horizon, everyone in Broncos Country will be eagerly waiting for its next undrafted hero.