Ranking the Five Biggest Draft Busts in Broncos History
Not every draft pick works out. Even the most well-run organizations miss on prospects, misjudge talent, or take risks that don’t pay off. But when those misses come early in the draft, the consequences can linger.
For the Denver Broncos, several draft selections stand out not just for falling short – but for how far they fell relative to expectations. Whether it was first-round quarterbacks who never developed or highly drafted players who barely contributed, these picks represent the biggest misses in franchise history:
5. Jarvis Moss (DE, 2007, Round 1, Pick 17)
The Broncos selected Jarvis Moss in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, betting on elite athletic traits and proven production at the collegiate level. Moss was a First-Team All-American in 2006 and recorded 15 sacks and 22 tackles for loss across his final two seasons with the Florida Gators. He also delivered on the biggest stage, tallying two sacks in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game, including a pivotal strip-sack in the second quarter that helped blow the game open.
That résumé suggested a player ready to translate disruption to the NFL level. Instead, Moss never developed into a consistent contributor in Denver, finishing his Broncos career with just 3.5 sacks across four seasons.
Despite entering the league with championship pedigree and high-end flashes, he struggled to carve out a meaningful role. For a first-round pick with that kind of collegiate production, the return fell well short of expectations.
4. Mike Croel (LB, 1991, Round 1, Pick 4)
Selected by the Broncos with the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, Mike Croel arrived in Denver with a strong collegiate résumé and significant expectations. With the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 1990, he recorded 61 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, and 12 quarterback hurries, earning First-Team All-Big Eight honors and Second-Team All-American recognition. He was at his best in the biggest moments, consistently delivering against top competition.
Croel’s NFL career began with promise, as he recorded 10 sacks as a rookie and earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1991. But that early success proved misleading.
Over his final three seasons with the Broncos, Croel managed just 10 total sacks, never again approaching his rookie-year impact. Being a top-five pick, the inability to build on such a strong start ultimately defines Croel’s tenure in Denver.
3. Marcus Nash (WR, 1998, Round 1, Pick 30)
The Broncos selected Marcus Nash late in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft, expecting him to become a key piece in an already potent offense. Nash entered the league fresh off a dominant 1997 season with the Tennessee Volunteers, where he recorded 76 receptions for 1,170 yards and 13 touchdowns. He earned First-Team All-SEC honors while averaging 15.4 yards per catch and 97.5 receiving yards per game.
That level of production suggested a receiver ready to contribute immediately. Instead, Nash’s NFL career never took off.
Nash appeared in just 10 games over two seasons with Denver and finished with only four receptions for 76 yards – all of which came during his rookie year. The Broncos still managed to win Super Bowl XXXIII despite Nash being a non-factor, but his lack of production in Denver was a major disappointment given what he accomplished in college.
2. Tommy Maddox (QB, 1992, Round 1, Pick 25)
When the Broncos selected Tommy Maddox in the first round, the move was viewed as an attempt to secure a long-term successor to John Elway. However, the decision was controversial from the start, as Denver had more immediate needs and many evaluators believed Maddox would have benefited from another year in college.
With the UCLA Bruins in 1991, Maddox completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 2,681 yards, with 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions – a stat line that reflected both upside and risk. That risk carried over to the NFL.
As a rookie in 1992, Maddox completed just 54.5 percent of his passes for 757 yards, five touchdowns, and nine interceptions across 13 games, leading Denver to an 0-4 record as a starter. His role diminished even further in 1993, when he completed just one pass for one yard in his final season with the team. A first-round investment that created internal tension and yielded minimal production made this a miss on multiple levels.
1. Paxton Lynch (QB, 2016, Round 1, Pick 26)
Few draft picks in Broncos history carried the expectations placed on Paxton Lynch. Denver traded up in the first round to select him, believing he could become the franchise’s long-term answer at quarterback following the retirement of Peyton Manning. Lynch had just completed a standout 2015 season with the Memphis Tigers, throwing for 3,776 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only four interceptions while completing 66.8 percent of his passes. He was widely viewed as the third-best quarterback prospect in the 2016 class, behind Jared Goff and Carson Wentz.
The upside was clear. The results were not.
Across two seasons with the Broncos, Lynch completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 792 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions, starting just four games and going 1-3. He struggled with reading defenses and failed to develop into a reliable option under center. Given the trade-up investment and positional importance, Lynch stands as the most significant draft bust in franchise history.
