Skip to main content
Advertising

Denver Broncos draft history: The franchise's picks from the fourth round and beyond who became Pro Bowlers

Look back through Broncos history with these photos of Denver's draft picks who went on to become Pro Bowl players with the Broncos after being selected in the fourth round or later.

1971 NFL Draft, No. 79 overall (fourth round) Accolades: Two career Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections (1 with Denver and 1 with Cleveland), one second-team All-Pro selection, 1976 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award winner, 1972 NFL leader in fumble recoveries, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection
1 / 14
1971, Round 4 - DE Lyle Alzado

1971 NFL Draft, No. 79 overall (fourth round)

Accolades: Two career Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections (1 with Denver and 1 with Cleveland), one second-team All-Pro selection, 1976 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award winner, 1972 NFL leader in fumble recoveries, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection

1973 NFL Draft, No. 88 overall (fourth round) Accolades: Three Pro Bowl selections, one first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
2 / 14
1973, Round 4 - LB Tom Jackson

1973 NFL Draft, No. 88 overall (fourth round)

Accolades: Three Pro Bowl selections, one first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

1975 NFL Draft, No. 95 overall (fourth round) Accolades: Four Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, 1975 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 1977 NFL leader in punt return yards, fourth in NFL history in career punt return touchdowns, first-team NFL 1970s All-Decade Team selection, second-team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
3 / 14
1975, Round 4 - WR/RS Rick Upchurch

1975 NFL Draft, No. 95 overall (fourth round)

Accolades: Four Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, two second-team All-Pro selections, 1975 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 1977 NFL leader in punt return yards, fourth in NFL history in career punt return touchdowns, first-team NFL 1970s All-Decade Team selection, second-team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

1979 NFL Draft, No. 188 overall (seventh round) Accolades: One Pro Bowl selection, one first-team All-Pro selection, 1982 NFL leader in yards per punt
4 / 14
1979, Round 7 - P Luke Prestridge

1979 NFL Draft, No. 188 overall (seventh round)

Accolades: One Pro Bowl selection, one first-team All-Pro selection, 1982 NFL leader in yards per punt

1980 NFL Draft, No. 157 overall (sixth round) Accolades: Two Pro Bowl selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
5 / 14
1980, Round 6 - G Keith Bishop

1980 NFL Draft, No. 157 overall (sixth round)

Accolades: Two Pro Bowl selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Eric Lars Bakke
1982 NFL Draft, No. 131 overall (Fifth round) Accolades: Two Pro Bowl selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, second-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
6 / 14
1982, Round 5 - RB Sammy Winder

1982 NFL Draft, No. 131 overall (Fifth round)

Accolades: Two Pro Bowl selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, second-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Eric Lars Bakke
1983 NFL Draft, No. 310 overall (12th round) Accolades: Six Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
7 / 14
1983, Round 12 - LB Karl Mecklenburg

1983 NFL Draft, No. 310 overall (12th round)

Accolades: Six Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Eric Lars Bakke
1987 NFL Draft, No. 334 overall (12th round) Accolades: One Pro Bowl selection, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection
8 / 14
1987, Round 12 - DB Tyrone Braxton

1987 NFL Draft, No. 334 overall (12th round)

Accolades: One Pro Bowl selection, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection

David Gonzales
1990 NFL Draft, No. 192 overall (seventh round) Accolades: Eight Pro Bowl selections (seven with Denver, 1 with Baltimore), four first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, two-time Super Bowl champion with Denver (XXXII and XXXIII, and one additional with Baltimore), first-team NFL 1990s All Decade Team selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
9 / 14
1990, Round 7 - TE Shannon Sharpe

1990 NFL Draft, No. 192 overall (seventh round)

Accolades: Eight Pro Bowl selections (seven with Denver, 1 with Baltimore), four first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, two-time Super Bowl champion with Denver (XXXII and XXXIII, and one additional with Baltimore), first-team NFL 1990s All Decade Team selection, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Ryan McKee
1994 NFL Draft, No. 218 overall (seventh round) Accolades: Five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection
10 / 14
1994, Round 7 - C Tom Nalen

1994 NFL Draft, No. 218 overall (seventh round)

Accolades: Five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection

Eric Lars Bakke
1995 NFL Draft, No. 196 overall (sixth round) Accolades: Three Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, 1998 NFL MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Super Bowl XXXII MVP, 1995 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 1997 NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, 1998 NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, 1998 NFL rushing leader, second-team NFL 1990s All-Decade Team selection, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, holder of several franchise records including all-time Denver Broncos rushing leader
11 / 14
1995, Round 6 - RB Terrell Davis

1995 NFL Draft, No. 196 overall (sixth round)

Accolades: Three Pro Bowl selections, three first-team All-Pro selections, 1998 NFL MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, two-time Super Bowl champion (XXXII and XXXIII), Super Bowl XXXII MVP, 1995 NFL All-Rookie Team selection, 1997 NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, 1998 NFL leader in rushing touchdowns, 1998 NFL rushing leader, second-team NFL 1990s All-Decade Team selection, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Ring of Fame inductee, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, first-team Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team selection, holder of several franchise records including all-time Denver Broncos rushing leader

Rich Clarkson
2006 NFL Draft, No. 126 overall (fourth round) Accolades: Five Pro Bowl selections (three with Denver), two first-team All-Pro selections (one with Denver), 2009 NFL sacks leader, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection
12 / 14
2006, Round 4 - DE/OLB Elvis Dumervil

2006 NFL Draft, No. 126 overall (fourth round)

Accolades: Five Pro Bowl selections (three with Denver), two first-team All-Pro selections (one with Denver), 2009 NFL sacks leader, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection

Gabriel Christus/Gabriel Christus 2011
2006 NFL Draft, No. 119 overall (fourth round) Accolades: Six Pro Bowl selections (two with Denver), one first-team All-Pro selection (with Chicago), one second-team All-Pro selection (with NYJ), Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, NFL single-game record holder for receptions
13 / 14
2006, Round 4 - WR Brandon Marshall

2006 NFL Draft, No. 119 overall (fourth round)

Accolades: Six Pro Bowl selections (two with Denver), one first-team All-Pro selection (with Chicago), one second-team All-Pro selection (with NYJ), Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection, NFL single-game record holder for receptions

© Eric Lars Bakke/© Eric Lars Bakke 2007
2011 NFL Draft, No. 129 overall (fourth round) Accolades: Two Pro Bowl selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection
14 / 14
2011, Round 4 - TE Julius Thomas

2011 NFL Draft, No. 129 overall (fourth round)

Accolades: Two Pro Bowl selections, Denver Broncos Top 100 Team selection

Eric Lars Bakke/Eric Lars Bakke
Advertising
This Ad will close in 3
Advertising

Related

gallery

The Denver Broncos' 2024 draft class in photos

Here is a quick look at the Denver Broncos' 2024 draft class.
gallery

Photos: Seventh-round pick Nick Gargiulo's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of G Nick Gargiulo's path from South Carolina to the Broncos, who selected him with the 256th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Seventh-round pick Devaughn Vele's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of WR Devaughn Vele's path from Utah to the Broncos, who selected him with the 235th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Fifth-round pick Audric Estimé's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of RB Audric Estimé's path from Notre Dame to the Broncos, who selected him with the 147th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Fifth-round pick Kris Abrams-Draine's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of CB Kris Abrams-Draine's path from Missouri to the Broncos, who selected him with the 145th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Fourth-round pick Troy Franklin's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of WR Troy Franklin's path from Oregon to the Broncos, who selected him with the 102nd-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Third-round pick Jonah Elliss' path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of OLB Jonah Elliss' path from Utah to the Broncos, who selected him with the 76th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Inside the Broncos' war room during the 2024 NFL Draft

Go inside the Denver Broncos' war room during the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Broncos Country shows out at 2024 Broncos Draft Party presented by Ticketmaster

Check out photos from the 2024 Broncos Draft Party presented by Ticketmaster at Empower Field at Mile High on Thursday night.
gallery

Photos: First-round pick Bo Nix's path to the Denver Broncos

Flip through photos of QB Bo Nix's path from Auburn to Oklahoma and now to the Broncos, who selected him with the 12th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
gallery

Photos: Every 2024 draft prospect analysts mocked to the Denver Broncos in the first round

Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, we rounded up as many major mock drafts that we could find since January to make a pool of potential first-round draft picks for the Denver Broncos.
gallery

Photos: A look at the 12 best picks at 12th overall from NFL Draft history

As the Broncos prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft with the 12th-overall pick, take a look back at the illustrious history of that slot with these 12 players, as selected by DenverBroncos.com.
Advertising