NFL Draft: Rating the Denver Broncos' Drafts Since 2000

Since the new millennium started, the Broncos have had their fair share of ups and downs in the draft.

The ups include the drafting of stars such as Clinton Portis, DJ Williams, Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Elvis Dumervil, to guys that were contributors to the Broncos franchise such as Ian Gold, Domonique Foxworth, Mike Anderson and Chris Myers, to the busts that were Willie Middlebrooks, Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder.

This slideshow will cover every Broncos draft from 2000-2009 and grade them on a scale of 1 to 10. 2010 was not included in this list as those draft picks haven't had enough time to prove their worth in the NFL.

2000

The Picks: Round 1 - Deltha O'Neal, Round 2 - Ian Gold, Kenoy Kennedy, Round 3 - Chris Cole, Round 4 - Jerry Johnson, Cooper Carlisle, Round 5 - Muneer Moore, Round 6 - Mike Anderson, Round 7 - Jarious Jackson, Leroy Fields

The Best Pick: Round 6 - Mike Anderson

The Worst Pick: Round 3 - Chris Cole

Overall, this was a very good draft for Denver. It may have been one of Shanahan's best in his 14 year tenure with Denver.

This draft netted Denver five future starters on both sides of the ball, and one guy who would go on to be a backup QB for Denver for the next four years.

Mike Anderson was obviously the cream of the crop of this draft, with Gold coming in at second. Anderson was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2000, gaining over 1,400 yards in his rookie season. After splitting the starting duty at RB in 2001 with Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary, Anderson would go on to start the next three seasons at FB, before returning at the starting RB position, splitting duty with a young Tatum Bell. In 2005, Anderson gained over 1,000 yards with 12 rushing TD's to help lead Denver to the AFC Championship Game.

Gold was a quality pick, as he was elected to the Pro Bowl as a Special Teamer in 2001, and would then go on to start for Denver at OLB from 02-03, and 05-07 before he retired.

Kennedy was another good pick, as he started at SS for three years before leaving for Detroit in 2005.

Chris Cole was kind of a wasted pick, as he never developed into a quality receiver, but that's kind of outweighed by the amount of quality picks in this draft.

Rating: 9

2001

The Picks: Round 1 - Willie Middlebrooks, Round 2 - Paul Toviessi, Round 3 - Reggie Hayward, Round 4 - Ben Hamilton, Nick Harris, Round 6 - Kevin Kasper

The Best Pick: Round 4 - Ben Hamilton

The Worst Pick: Round 1 - Willie Middlebrooks

This is the exact opposite of the 2000 draft. The Broncos only had six draft selections and let's just say they didn't make them count.

With the exceptions of Reggie Hayward and Ben Hamilton, none of these players developed into good players not only during their tenure with the Broncos franchise, but in general.

Middlebrooks was a terrible CB who lasted four years with the Broncos, starting only two games. He played his last season with SF in 2005. He might have been, along with Jarvis Moss, Shanny's biggest draft bust of this era.

Toviessi never played a down for the Broncos.

Hayward was a good DE for Denver during his four years here, as he put up seasons of 8.5 sacks in 2003 and 10.5 sacks in 2004 to become Denver's best pass rusher during that time period before signing with Jacksonville in 2005.

Ben Hamilton was the best pick of this draft, as he went on to play for Denver through 2009, before signing with Seattle in 2010. He was Denver's second best offensive lineman, other than Tom Nalen, during the decade of the 2000's.

Kasper was a special teams player for a couple of years in Denver, while the others never played a down for Denver.

Hamilton and Hayward save this draft from being terrible.

Rating: 4

2002

The Picks: Round 1 - Ashley Lelie, Round 2 - Clinton Portis, Round 3 - Dorsett Davis, Round 4 - Sam Brandon, Round 5 - Herb Haygood, Round 6 - Jeb Putzier, Round 7 - Chris Young, Monsanto Pope

Best Pick: Round 2 - Clinton Portis

Worst Pick: Round 3 - Dorsett Davis

This was a quality draft for Denver. It netted them four future starters, one of whom became a superstar player and another who was a quality starter for three years in Denver.

Lelie may have not been the next great receiver like people were expecting, but he was legit number-two option during Denver's last playoff run (03-05) before he demanded his way out of Denver. He had a 1,000 yard season in 2004, and averaged over 18 yards a reception in two consecutive years.

Clinton Portis was the highlight of this draft, obviously. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2002, gained over 1,500 yards and 14 plus TD's in each of his two seasons in Denver, and was traded to Washington for one of the greatest CB's of all-time in Champ Bailey. Portis remained one of the NFL's top RB's until after the 2008 season.

Dorsett Davis was wasted pick as he played one season for Denver in a reserve role, contributing very little.

Sam Brandon was a quality pick as he started alongside Kenoy Kennedy in the Safety backfield for Denver, before the signing of John Lynch. Sam Brandon would play for Denver until 2006.

Jeb Putzier became Denver's starting Tight End for two years after the retirement of Shannon Sharpe.

Chris Young contributed in a special teams role for a couple of years, while Monsanto Pope played for four years as a DL reserve with the Broncos.

Rating: 9 (mainly because of the Portis-Bailey trade)

2003

The Picks: Round 1 - George Foster, Round 2 - Terry Pierce, Round 4 - Quentin Griffin, Bryant McNeal, Nicholas Eason, Round 5 - Ben Claxton, Adrian Madise, Round 6 - Aaron Hunt, Round 7 - Clint Mitchell, Ahmaad Galloway

 The Best Pick: Round 1 - George Foster

The Worst Pick: Round 2 - Terry Pierce

This was definitely a below average draft for Denver. One player turned out to be a starter of this draft class, while only one other developed into somewhat of a quality contributor.

George Foster was the best pick of this draft, despite being considered a bust. He was moved to RT where he would start from 04-06.

Terry Pierce played for a short period of time in Denver, but was nothing more than a reserve.

Quentin Griffin had some quality moments in Denver, including the game at the RCA Dome against the Colts where he ran for over 100 yards in Clinton Portis' absence to help clinch a playoff spot for Denver, and the opening season game in 2004 vs. Kansas City where he had another highlight game to help Denver win yet again. He would go on to lose his starting RB position to converted FB Reuben Droughns.

This draft kind of sucked, it's as simple as that.

Rating: 4 (it gets some leeway due to there being only two first day draft picks)

2004

The Picks: Round 1 - DJ Williams, Round 2 -Tatum Bell, Darius Watts, Round 3 - Jeremy LeSueur, Round 5 - Jeff Shoate, Round 6 - Triandos Luke, Josh Sewell, Round 7 - Matt Mauck, Bradlee Van Pelt, Brandon Miree

Best Pick: Round 1 - DJ Williams

Worst Pick: Round 2 - Darius Watts

This was just about a slightly above average draft. The first two picks were good, the last two picks of the first day were bad, while the late round draft picks contributed little to nothing, as expected.

DJ Williams continues to start at LB for Denver seven years into his tenure, and has become one of the leaders/captains of the defense.

Tatum Bell was a quality pick as he gained nearly 1,000 yards for Denver in 2005, gained over 1,000 in 2006, and was a steady contributor for about three years.

LeSueur was a Defensive Back who was slowed down by injuries, Darius Watts was a plain bust at WR and Jeff Shoate, in between stints on the practice squad, would contribute for Denver as a backup CB in 2004 and 2007.

Bradlee Van Pelt was a backup QB for Plummer in 2004 and 2005.

Rating: 7 (mainly because of the Williams pick)

2005

The Picks: Round 2 - Darrent Williams, Round 3 - Karl Paymah, Domonique Foxworth, Maurice Clarrett, Round 6 - Chris Myers, Round 7 - Paul Ernster

Best Pick: Round 3 - Karl Paymah

Worst Pick: Round 3 - Maurice Clarett

Denver went CB deep in this draft, selecting three CB's with their first three selections.

Darrent Williams started his first and only two seasons with Denver, becoming a quality starter opposite Champ Bailey, before his untimely death after the 2006 season.

Paymah and Foxworth became steady contributors as Foxworth became a starter at various times at CB/S over three seasons with Denver and Paymah became one of the better special teams players on the team. Both went on to sign free agent contracts with the Vikings and Falcons, respectively.

Clarett was obviously the biggest bust of this draft. A reach at round three, Clarett showed up to camp overweight and lazy, character traits that got him cut before the season even started.

Chris Myers started on the OL for Denver, before moving on to start for Houston.

Rating: 6

2006

The Picks: Round 1 - Jay Cutler, Round 2- Tony Scheffler, Round 4 - Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, Domenik Hixon, Round 5 - Chris Kuper, Round 6 - Greg Eslinger

Best Pick: Round 4 - Brandon Marshall

Worst Pick: Round 4 - Domenik Hixon (by default)

This was the best draft of Shanny's tenure in Denver. He drafted three superstar players, two of them in Round 4, drafted two other quality starters and one guy who would go on to become a special teams threat for another team.

Cutler, although he never led Denver to a playoff berth, established himself as one of the top QB's in the NFL, when he threw for over 4,000 yards and 25 TD's en route to a Pro Bowl berth in 2008. He was traded by McDaniels in February 2009 after the two clashed.

Brandon Marshall turned out to be one of the top five, if not top three receivers in the league. He turned in three consecutive years of 100 plus reception, 1,100 yard plus seasons. He broke the single game receptions record in December of 2009 vs. the Colts. He also was traded in the off-season of 2010 by McDaniels.

Elvis Dumervil has become one of the pass rushers in the league, leading the league in sacks with 17 in 2009. He had 12 in 2007 as a situational pass rusher.

Hixon was released after playing four games with Denver, and became the Giants' kickoff return specialist en route to their Super Bowl victory in 2007.

Kuper became a starting Guard for the Denver Broncos.

Rating: 10

2007

The Picks: Round 1 - Jarvis Moss, Round 2 - Tim Crowder, Round 3 - Ryan Harris, Round 4 - Marcus Thomas

Best Pick: Round 3 - Ryan Harris

Worst Pick: Round 1 - Jarvis Moss

You know how the 2006 draft was the best of the Shanny era? This one might have been the worst. A complete 180 from the previous year's draft, this draft is only saved by the selection of Tackle Ryan Harris.

Tim Crowder was a bad pick. He got a chance from the beginning to prove himself in 2007 and 2008, amassing only a total of four sacks.

Jarvis Moss was an even worse pick as he played four years for Denver, amassed 3.5 sacks in his Broncos career. He had numerous opportunities to prove himself including receiving postive comments from McDaniels upon the move from the 4-3 to a 3-4 defense so he could be utilized as a pass rushing specialist, failed in that role, got cut from Denver, and now plays for the Oakland Raiders.

Marcus Thomas turned out to be an okay DT, as he starts from time to time for Denver.

Rating: 3 (the terrible picks of Moss and Crowder outweigh the quality picks in Harris and Thomas)

2008

The Picks: Round 1 - Ryan Clady, Round 2 - Eddie Royal, Round 4 - Kory Lichtensteiger, Jack Williams, Round 5 - Ryan Torain, Carlton Powell, Round 6 - Spencer Larsen, Round 7 - Josh Barrett, Peyton Hillis

Best Pick: Round 1 - Ryan Clady

Worst Pick: Round 4 - Kory Lichtensteigher

This was a quality draft. Denver got a premier/Pro Bowl Left Tackle to protect the QB's blind side for the next 10 years in Ryan Clady. Eddie Royal was a quality pick who had a great rookie season and has become a quality returner for the Broncos in the special teams game.

Lichtensteiger was a bad pick, even though he was drafted in the second. Expected to fill the role left by the retirement of Tom Nalen, Lichtensteiger got released after one year as a backup, and now plays for the Redskins in his third stop of a three year NFL career.

Spencer Larsen has become a decent player, contributing as an occasional FB or LB, starting at both positions in one game against the Falcons in 2008.

Peyton Hillis has become one of the best RB's in the league, albeit with the Cleveland Browns. You can thank Josh McDaniels for that one.

Expectations were high for Torain, but injuries quickly slowed down the RB after he got a shot at the starting RB gig against Cleveland in 2008.

Barrett became a quality reserve safety for Denver, starting the last three games of 2008 before departing for New England in 2010.

Overall, an above average draft.

Rating: 8 (due to the selections of Clady and Royal)

2009

The Picks: Round 1 - Knowshon Moreno, Robert Ayers, Round 2 - Alphonso Smith, Darcel McBath, Richard Quinn, Round 4 - David Bruton, Seth Olsen, Round 5 - Kenny McKinley, Round 6 - Tom Brandstater, Round 7 - Blake Schluter

Best Pick: (by default) Round 1 - Knowshon Moreno

Worst Pick: Round 1 - Robert Ayers

This is a pretty bad draft. With the exception of the mediocre Knowshon Moreno, Denver didn't draft a single future starter in 2009.

A lot of these guys received playing time in the event of injuries to prove themselves, but none of them really showed anything noteworthy.

Ayers has been a bust, Olsen and Smith play for different teams (by the way, Smith is a quality starting CB for the Lions. McDaniels traded him after one season), Richard Quinn was a complete waste of a Round 2 pick and Moreno has been nothing but an average RB for the first two years of his career.

Denver had a lot of holes to fill in 2009. They didn't fill any.

Rating: 2