Photos: Ten worst first-round draft picks in Broncos history

This year’s NFL draft takes place on Thursday, with the Broncos selecting in the 31st slot — a tough place to find an impact athlete.

We hope John Elway and company beat the odds — or at least make a better choice than the ones on the following list. Here’s our top-ten roster of the ten worst first-round draft picks in Broncos history. Count them down below.

Number 10: Tommy Maddox Quarterback: UCLA

Number 25 overall pick in 1992

Maddox had some good years at QB in Pittsburgh, long after his Broncos days. But in Denver, he was mainly drafted because then-coach Dan Reeves was disenchanted with John Elway and seldom rose from the pine.

Number 9: Ashley Lelie Wide receiver: Hawaii

Number 19 overall pick in 2002

Lelie never became the big-time receiver the Broncos envisioned, and he was a grumbler, leading to his 2006 trade. Two years later, he was out of the league.

Continue to keep counting down our choices for the ten worst first-round draft picks in Broncos history. Number 8: Tim Tebow Quarterback: Florida

Number 25 overall pick in 2010

We’re of two minds on Timmy. Yes, he got the Broncos to the playoffs (and won a game!) in his best season with the squad. But he was a terrible passer and a weirdly divisive presence who was disappeared from the roster at the earliest opportunity. It now looks like his main connection to football will involve the ESPN studios.

Number 7: Don Latimer Nose tackle: Miami (Florida)

Number 27 overall pick in 1978

The Broncos hoped Latimer would become a mainstay of the vaunted Orange Crush defense, but he proved an underwhelming talent. By 1983, he was in the USFL.

Continue to keep counting down our choices for the ten worst first-round draft picks in Broncos history. Number 6: Willie Middlebrooks Cornerback: Minnesota

Number 24 overall pick in 2001

He was drafted with the idea that he’d become a star, but Middlebrooks was more of a journeyman. He lasted just three seasons in Denver.

Number 5: Kelvin Clark Offensive tackle: Nebraska

Number 22 overall pick in 1979

Clark is so little remembered for his brief stint in Denver that we couldn’t even find a trading-card image showing him in a Broncos uniform. This is him sporting Nebraska red.

Continue to keep counting down our choices for the ten worst first-round draft picks in Broncos history. Number 4: Dan Williams Defensive end: Toledo

Number 11 overall pick in 1993

One of the highest Broncos picks of the team’s Super Bowl era never blossomed in Denver. Williams was out in three years as well.

Number 3: Jarvis Moss Defensive end: Florida

Number 17 overall pick in 2007

Moss was supposed to return the Broncos’ pass rush to its former status as one of the most feared units in football. Instead, he made no impact when he was healthy, which wasn’t all that often, and his attitude appeared to get progressively worse during his time with the team. A big — make that really big — bust.

Continue to keep counting down our choices for the ten worst first-round draft picks in Broncos history. Number 2: Marcus Nash Wide receiver: Tennessee

Number 30 overall pick in 1998

Nash was expected to be a terror of a wide receiver. But during his first year, he only played eight games and caught just four passes for 76 yards. In year two, he appeared in just two games and caught nothing but the cold chill of disappointment from Broncos’ loyalists. He was subsequently traded to Miami, which dealt him to Baltimore. By 2003, he was in the Arena Football League. Grim.

Number 1: Ted Gregory Defensive tackle: Syracuse

Number 26 overall pick in 1988

This screen capture from a Deadspin piece naming Gregory the eighth worst NFL player ever says it all.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

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