There has been many greats to play on the Denver Broncos over their 56 year history with names like: John Elway, Terrell Davis, Floyd Little, Randy Gradishar, Lionel Taylor and many many more. But I think you're all with me when I say its pretty safe to say John Elway is the best Broncos player of all-time. So that's where this article was thought up from, instead of the best Broncos players of all-time what if I did something a little tougher like the best players of the 2000's? This list was determined by a number of different factors such as stats, years with the team, leadership ability, awards, and if they caused problems with the team.
Today I will be revealing the first 15 players on the list numbers 50-36. Let me know what you guys think and if there is a player that should be farther up the list or should be lower, so with that let's get to it.....
#50 RB Ronnie Hillman
Ronnie Hillman was picked #67 overall in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft by the Broncos. Hillman wasn't very productive until the the 2014 and 2015 seasons when he started 14 games over those 2 seasons. In his 4 seasons with the Broncos he played in 48 games and totaled 452 carries, 1,842 yards, 12 TDs, and 4.1 yards per carry. He also had 67 receptions, 431 yards, 1 TD, and 6.4 yards per catch.
Hillman's all-time ranks on the Broncos:
Carries (13)
Rushing yards (14)
Rushing TDs (17)
Avg (24) at least 100 carries
#49 P Britton Colquitt
I know what you're thinking, how does a punter make the list of top 50 players? Well here's how he made the list. Colquitt went undrafted in the 2009 draft and was picked up by Denver in December of 2009. He was their starting punter from 2010-2015 playing 96 games with the Broncos. In his career with Denver he totaled 472 punts, 21,321 total yards, 18,517 net yards, 45.1 average yards per punt, 39.2 net yard average, 149 inside the 20, and 29 touch backs.
Colquitt's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Punts and yards (3)
Average (4)
Net Yards (2)
Net Avg (4)
#48 TE Tony Scheffler
Tony Scheffler was drafted #61 overall in the 2nd round of the 2006 draft by the Broncos. Scheffler was a moderate contributor for the Broncos over his 4 seasons with the team. In that span he racked up 138 receptions, 1,896 yards, 14 TDs, and 13.7 yards per catch.
Scheffler's all time ranks on the Broncos
Receptions (31)
Receiving Yards (25)
Rec TDs (21)
Rec Avg (23) at least 75 rec
#47 WR Brandon Stokley
Brandon Stokley was drafted #105 overall in the 4th round of the 1999 draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He had to stints with the Broncos 2007-2009 and 2012. In those seasons with the Broncos Stokley tallied 153 receptions, 2,034 yards, 17 TDs, and 13.3 yards per catch. His most memorable moment with the Broncos was against the Bengals in 2009 when a pass intended for Brandon Marshall got deflected and Stokley caught it and raced 87 yards down the field to give Denver the win.
Stokley's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Receptions (28)
Rec Yards (23)
Rec TD (19)
Rec Avg (31) at least 75 rec
#46 WR Eddie Royal
Eddie Royal was drafted #42 overall in the 3nd round of the 2008 draft by the Broncos. Royal had an immediate impact in his rookie season as he tallied 91 receptions, 980 yards, and 5 TDs. However he dropped in production the next 3 years and wasn't re-signed after his rookie deal was up. In his 4 seasons with the Broncos he totaled 206 receptions, 2,107 yards, 9 TDs, and 10.2 yards per catch. He also added 81 punt returns, 967 yards, 2 TDs, and 11.9 yards per return. He also had 57 kickoff returns, 1,375 yards, 1TD, and 24.1 yards per return.
Royal's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Receptions (18)
Rec Yards (22)
Rec TD (30)
Rec Avg (62) at least 75 rec
Punt Ret (7)
Yards (6)
Avg (4) at least 25 returns
TD (T3)
Kick Ret (11)
Yards (9)
Avg (15) at least 25 returns
TD (T2)
#45 QB Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton was drafted #106 overall in the 4th round of the 2005 draft by the Bears. Denver Acquired Orton from the Bears in 2009 by trading Jay Cutler and a 5th round pick to the Bears for Orton, their 1st round picks in 2009, 2010, and a 3rd round pick in 2009. In his 3 years with the Broncos he went 12-21 as a starter, 720 comp, 1,194 attempts, 8,434 yards, 49TDs, 28 INTs, 85.7 passer rating, and 60.3% completion. He ended up being benched in week 5 of 2011 in favor of Tim Tebow after starting 1-4.
Orton's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Record (10)
Comp (7)
Attempts (8)
Yards (7)
TD (9)
INT (13)
Rating (3) at least 500 attempts
Comp % (4) at least 500 attempts
#44 T Ryan Harris
Ryan Harris was drafted #70 overall in the 3rd round of the 2007 by the Broncos. Harris had 2 stints with the Broncos 2007-2010 and 2015 playing in 62 games and starting 50 of them. In 2008 his second season with the Broncos Harris started 16 games at RT and allowed only 2 sacks. In 2015 with the Broncos Harris started all 16 games at right and left tackle and giving up only 3 sacks.
While it won't be a sexy choice for #44 Harris answered when called upon to start at both left and right tackle in his career with Denver.
#43 WR Ashley Lelie
Ashley Lelie was drafted #19 overall in the 1st round of the 2001 draft by the Broncos. Lelie never really lived up to his 1st round status as he only played for 4 seasons with the Broncos tallying 168 receptions, 3,007 yards, 12TDs, and 17.9 yards per catch. Lelie's best season with Denver was in 2004 when he caught 54 passes for 1,084 yards and 7 TDs.
At the beginning of the 2006 season Lelie became unhappy in Denver skipping training camp and wanting to be traded which caused tension with Mike Shanahan.
Lelie's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Recs (25)
Yards (16)
Rec TD (24)
Avg (3) at least 75 receptions
#42 RB Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee came into the league with the Buffalo Bills in 2003 via the 23rd pick in the draft. McGahee signed with the Broncos in the 2011 off season and played 2 seasons with the Broncos playing 25 games and starting in 23 of them. In those 2 seasons McGahee totaled 416 carries, 1,930 yards, 8 TDs, and 4.6 yards per carry. McGahee got injured in week 11 of the 2012 season and missed the rest of the season ending his run with the Broncos. McGahee could have been ranked higher on the list but only playing 2 seasons with the Broncos dropped him down a bit.
McGahee's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Carries (16)
Yards (13)
TDs (27)
Avg (8) at least 100 carries
#41 LB Mario Haggan
Mario Haggan came into the league in the 7th round of the 2003 draft by the Bills. Haggan came to Denver in 2008 and played for 4 seasons. In his 4 seasons with Denver Haggan had 156 tackles, 1 INT, 5 FF, and 7 sacks in 56 games he played in.
Haggan's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Tackles (34)
INT (146)
FF (22)
Sacks (44)
#40 RB CJ Anderson
CJ Anderson went undrafted in the 2013 draft and was signed by Denver in March. Anderson seen very little action in his first season having only 7 carries for 38 yards. However from the 2014 season on Anderson continued to improve his numbers each season. Throughout his first 4 years with the Broncos Anderson has totaled 448 carries, 2,044 yards, 17 TDs, and 4.6 yards per carry. Anderson has had several memorable moments with Broncos such as his 48 yard TD run against the Patriots in 2015 that helped Denver into the playoffs and ultimately win Super Bowl 50, his 51 yard catch and run against the Raiders in 2014, as well as one of my more favorites his 6 yard run on 4th and 1 in the playoffs against the Colts where Anderson was met in the backfield and wouldn't be denied the first down.
Anderson's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Carries (14)
Yards (12)
TDs (10)
Avg (7) at least 100 carries
2014 Pro Bowl Selection
#39 RB Tatum Bell
Tatum Bell was the 41st pick in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft by the Broncos. Bell played in 49 games and starting 17 of them in 4 seasons with the Broncos. In his 4 seasons with the Broncos Bell garnered 525 carries, 2,591 yards, 15 TDs, and 4.9 yards per carry.
Bell's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Carries (11)
Yards (10)
TDs 12)
Avg (4) at least 100 carries
#38 LB John Mobley
John Mobley was selected 15th overall in the 1996 draft by the Broncos. In his 8 year career with Denver he played 105 games starting 103 of them and had 485 tackles, 5 INTs, 5 FF, and 10.5 sacks. From 2000-2003 Mobley tallied 240 tackles, 2 INTs, 3 FF, and 4 sacks in 55 games.
Mobley's all-time ranks on the Broncos
Tackles (11)
INT (53)
FF (19)
Sacks (34)
#37 QB Brian Griese
Brian Griese was drafted by the Broncos with the 91st overall pick in the 3rd round of the 1998 draft. He played a total of 5 seasons with the Broncos. From 2000-2002 he started 38 games completing 782 out of 1,223 passes for 8,729 yards, 57 TDs, 38 INTs, 64% completion, and a 89 passer rating.
Griese's all-time ranks on Broncos
Comp (3)
Attempts (3)
Yards (4)
TD (4)
INT (6)
Comp % (3)
Pass Rtg (5) at least 500 attempts
#36 TE Julius Thomas
Julius Thomas was drafted by the Broncos in the 2011 draft 129th overall in the 4th round. Thomas didn't see much action until his 3rd season when he made his first of two Pro Bowls. Thomas played 4 seasons with the Broncos recording 109 receptions, 1,282 yards, 24 TDs, and 11.8 yards per catch.
Thomas' all-time TE ranks on the Broncos
Receptions (7)
Yards (8)
TDs (4)
Avg (6) at least 100 receptions
Well there you have it the first 15 players on my list. Let me know what you guys think in the comments below if a player should be lower or higher or if you think another player should be on the list.
Thanks for reading join me next time when I reveal numbers 35 through 26.
