When the Denver Broncos used the 20th overall pick in the 2017 draft on Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles, they were betting on raw athleticism, violent hands, and an edge that edge rushers hated. He stepped onto the field immediately as a Week 1 starter, becoming just the sixth rookie in franchise history to open the year at left tackle.

Bolles’ early development was a trial by fire, marred by holding penalties and inconsistent technique that drew heavy criticism from fanbases and media alike. Rather than folding, Bolles locked in, refined his footwork, and put together a massive breakout in 2020. Allowing just a single sack all year, he captured Second-Team All-Pro honors and established himself as one of the elite pass protectors in the NFL.

That turnaround became the standard, not a fluke. Over the following years, Bolles matured into the ultimate locker-room leader and the longest-tenured offensive pillar on the roster. When rookie quarterback Bo Nix arrived in 2024, Bolles served as his primary bodyguard, putting together a near-flawless season that earned him a four-year, $82 million contract extension to keep him in Denver through 2028.

He built further on that standard during the 2025 campaign, leading all NFL offensive tackles in pass-blocking grade and earning a First-Team All-Pro selection alongside his first career Pro Bowl nod. He anchored an offensive line that pushed Denver all the way to the AFC Championship Game, while also earning national respect off the field as the 2026 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award winner. Entering his 10th NFL season in 2026, Bolles sits firmly as the veteran leader of Mile High's front five.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually.  As such, we are delighted to present our post-2024 revision of our top 50 Denver Broncos.

As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Broncos overachieved by going 10-7 and making the playoffs, only to lose to Buffalo in the opening round.  There were no fluctuations, but two new entrants to the Top 50.

As always, we present our top five, which remain unchanged.

1. John Elway
2. Von Miller
3. Shannon Sharpe
4. Champ Bailey
5. Randy Gradishar

You can find the entire list here.

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II makes his debut on the list at #41.

The second new entrant is Courtland Sutton, who enters at #47.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

Drafted in the second round out of Southern Methodist in 2018, Courtland Sutton landed in Denver boasting an ideal alpha receiver frame, a massive catch radius, and physical boundary dominance. Save for a torn ACL that wiped out nearly his entire 2020 campaign, he has consistently operated as the reliable wide receiver anchor for an evolving Broncos offense.

Sutton's breakout arrived in 2019 when he earned his first Pro Bowl selection, hauling in 72 passes for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns while proving he could win against top primary cornerbacks. Through years of quarterback instability in Mile High, his ability to win 50/50 contested balls remained a constant offensive lifeline. He hit another gear in 2023, showcasing lethal red-zone efficiency by catching a career-high 10 touchdown passes.

His role as the primary passing engine truly crystallized alongside young quarterback Bo Nix. In 2024, Sutton recorded his second career four-digit campaign, racking up 1,081 receiving yards and eight touchdowns to lead Denver back into the postseason. He kept that standard going in 2025, stringing together his second consecutive 1,000-yard year with 74 receptions for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns while capturing his second career Pro Bowl nod.

His clutch perimeter play down the stretch helped power the Broncos to an AFC West title and an AFC Championship Game appearance. Entering his ninth NFL season in 2026, Sutton should continue to make a run on the franchise’s all-time receiving leaderboards.

When the Denver Broncos made Patrick Surtain II the ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft—the second defensive back selected behind Jaycee Horn—they landed a true blue-chip cornerstone. The Alabama product carried NFL pedigree and refined technical polish, stepping directly into the secondary and delivering a flawless All-Rookie campaign that signaled a star was born.

Surtain elevated his game into elite territory during his sophomore campaign in 2022. Blessed with long arms, elite recovery speed, and a high football IQ, he routinely eliminated opposing top targets in single coverage, capturing First-Team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection. He backed that up with a second consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2023, solidifying his reputation as the premier shadow cornerback in the league.

2024 would be a golden season for Surtain. Opposing offensive coordinators practically erased his half of the field, targeting him just 62 times all year. When quarterbacks did dare throw his way, Surtain punished them, holding passers to a microscopic 59.1 passer rating and allowing a league-low 326 yards in coverage. He snagged four interceptions—highlighted by a momentum-swinging 100-yard pick-six against the Raiders—and added 11 pass deflections. That total dominance earned him NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Gradishar as only the second Bronco in franchise history to claim the award.

Surtain remained the heartbeat of Denver's defense in 2025, securing his fourth straight Pro Bowl nod and earning Second-Team All-Pro honors. Even while battling a midseason pectoral strain, his presence helped Denver's unit dominate down the stretch, and he returned for the postseason to help drive the Broncos all the way to the AFC Championship Game. Entering the 2026 season for his sixth NFL campaign, Surtain sits firmly atop the league as the undisputed gold standard at cornerback.

Thus far, he has compiled 12 interceptions, 59 pass deflections, 279 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Once that is done, we will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Denver Broncos will induct Demaryius Thomas into their Ring of Fame.

The event will take place on October 19 during Denver’s home game against the New York Giants.  Sadly, this will be a posthumous induction as Thomas passed away in 2021.

Thomas was Denver’s 22nd Overall Pick in 2010, and the Wide Receiver played for the Broncos until 2018.  With the team, he tallied 665 Receptions for 9,055 Yards and 60 Touchdowns and boasted a five-year streak of Pro Bowls (2012-16), and helped Denver win Super Bowl 50

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the family of Demaryius Thomas on his impending honor.

2024: Pre-Season Rank: #134.  Peak Period 2021-24*

Doesn’t it feel like Patrick Surtain II knows what the Wide Receiver’s route is before he does?

Surtain has been a godsend for the Denver Broncos, who desperately needed a building block in their defense.  Breaking out in his sophomore year, Surtain ran away with the Defensive Player of the Year last season, and enters this season as the CB1 of the NFL.  He jumped 60 spots on this rank this year, and another 30 after five months of football is on the table.

*Surtain has only played four seasons.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 Denver Broncos.

As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Broncos again struggled and could not make the playoffs.  There is only one new entry into our Top 50.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. John Elway
2. Von Miller
3. Shannon Sharpe
4. Champ Bailey
5. Randy Gradishar

You can find the entire list here.

The new entry is current free agent Safety Justin Simmons comes in at #40.  He was a four-time Second Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl Selection with Denver.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

Selected in the third round out of Boston College in 2016, Justin Simmons came to Mile High as a versatile defensive back with elite leaping ability and exceptional diagnostic skills. After serving as a core contributor as a rookie, Simmons seized a full-time starting free safety role in 2017 and quickly transformed into the rangy, intellectual quarterback of Denver’s secondary.

Simmons developed into one of the premier ball-hawking free safeties of his era. Possessing deep-third range, smooth transition hips, and sharp route-recognition skills, he routinely erased vertical shot plays while acting as a reliable last line of defense in run support. His breakout national moment arrived in 2019 when he earned his first AP Second-Team All-Pro nod, followed by his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2020.

His consistency over a five-year stretch was remarkable. Simmons secured four AP Second-Team All-Pro selections (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) and earned two Pro Bowl nods (2020, 2023). In 2022, despite missing five games to injury, he co-led the entire NFL with six interceptions and forced three fumbles. Off the field, his leadership and extensive community involvement earned him three Walter Payton Man of the Year nominations.

After the 2023 season, Denver made the difficult decision to release its long-time defensive captain as part of a salary-cap restructuring. With Denver, Simmons had 30 interceptions, 604 combined tackles, 64 pass deflections, 19 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top 50 Denver Broncos.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following:

1. Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Broncos had a very disappointing season where they not only failed to make the playoffs but may have made a mistake in signing Russel Wilson, but year two could be completely different. This yielded no changes in our top 50 list, but we always acknowledge that the past season was taken into account.

As always, we present our top five, which had no changes (obviously).

1. John Elway

2. Von Miller

3. Shannon Sharpe

4. Champ Bailey

5. Randy Gradishar

You can find the entire list here.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post-2021 revision of our top 50 Denver Broncos.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Broncos went 7-10 and failed to make the playoffs.  No new players made the top 50, but there was one change, which we will comment on below.

As always, we present our top five:

1. John Elway

2. Von Miller

3. Shannon Sharpe

4. Champ Bailey

5. Randy Gradishar

You can find the entire list here.

The only change on the list was Von Miller, who was traded during the season to the Rams, who moved up to #2 from #3.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Having won the Super Bowl in 2014 and finished runners-up in 2015, the members of the Seattle Seahawks’ legendary Legion of Boom era have all been earmarked as potential Hall of Famers in the future. Despite not featuring in the legendary defense, Russell Wilson is all but certain to get the nod.

The 2021 season marked the first time that the 33-year-old had missed a game and finished with a losing record. Regardless of this, his incredible arm was often put on a show, even if a porous line held his scrambling feet in check. He’s still an NFL superstar, which is why his move to the Denver Broncos has stirred up the Super Bowl odds.

Broncos surge on the star power of Russell Wilson

Purely because of the arrival of Russell Wilson, the Denver Broncos flew up in the betting on NFL bookmakers' sites. From around +2000 to win the AFC Conference, the Broncos are now the third-favorites at +650, just behind the +400 Kansas City Chiefs and +350 Buffalo Bills.

For the Super Bowl, the Broncos are now joint-fourth with the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Rams, at +10000. It’s a huge leap, but we saw as recently as last season how much of a difference adding some star players can make. The betting tips on NFL earmarked the Rams for a close triumph in the Super Bowl, with their star-studded cast – which added Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. late – being key.

Prior to the trade, the power rankings on ESPN had Denver sitting 21st overall, expected to get a 7-10 record with the biggest question mark being around their quarterback. Now, they have one of the best and most reliable in the league, and Wilson will get to play behind an offensive line that was distinctly better than Seattle’s – assuming that Bobby Massie remains or a better replacement is found.

Generating offense atop a stubborn defence

Last season, the Denver Broncos’ defensive unit finished as the third most stubborn in the NFL, conceding a mere 18.9 points per game. Some big names from that unit were set to hit the free agency, with linebacker Josey Jewell and cornerbacks Bryce Callahan and Kyle Fuller among them, but as explained on Sports Illustrated, they have plenty of cap flexibility even after the Wilson trade.

The team has been able to save a good chunk of cash by sending Shelby Harris, Drew Lock, and Noah Fant to Seattle, as well as by releasing DaeSean Hamilton. It’s also not essential for the team to re-sign stud running back Melvin Gordon, given the immense breakout season of Javonte Williams. So, there should be the funds available to solidify the defense – if not improve it – and perhaps even upgrade the offensive line.

Best of all for Wilson, with the middling – but better than Seattle’s – offensive line aside, he already has a glut of offensive weapons ready for service. Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, and Jerry Jeudy offer one of the most menacing receiving corps in the NFL, while Williams, and now Wilson, will be a constant threat out of the backfield.

Looking at the strength of the defense, the weapons on offense, and now the prospect of Wilson in command, it’s easy to get excited about Denver’s chances next season. The NFL oddsmakers see the Broncos as a dark horse for the Super Bowl now, and it’s tough to argue against that stance.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2021 revision of our top 50 Denver Broncos of all-time.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

This our first revision in two years, with one significant jump and one new entry.

1. John Elway

2. Shannon Sharpe

3. Von Miller

4. Randy Gradishar

5. Champ Bailey

You can find the entire list here.

Although he was out for the 2020 Season, his strong 2019 brought Miller to the top five, up from his previous #6 rank.

Wide Receiver, Emmanuel Sanders, who is no longer with the club, debuts at #50.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Aqib Talib was the 20^thOverall Pick in 2008, but the former Kansas Jayhawk struggled early to live up to expectations.  Winning the starting job at Left Cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his sophomore year, Talib did well, but it was not until 2012, when he was traded to the New England Patriots where his star began to rise.

Brandon Marshall was a really good Wide Receiver, but was he a Hall of Fame wide out?

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the Denver Broncos. 

The Nets were formed in 1960, as a charter member of the American Football League.  While the fanbase proved to be strong, the play on the field was not, and they had little to no success in the 1960s.  The first few seasons when they migrated to the NFL saw the same result, but a developing “Orange Crush” Defense, took them to Super Bowl XII.  They came up short, but it was a start.

The Broncos would trade for the number one pick in 1983, John Elway, and it would usher in a wave of success in Mile High.  Elway took the Broncos to three AFC Championships in the 1980s, but they were unable to convert that success into a Super Bowl ring.  This changed in the 90s, when Elway gained a prime offensive weapon in Terrell Davis, and the two would win Super Bowl back-to-back in the 1997 and 1998 season, ending the anxiety of Broncos fans.

Denver would again sign a Hall of Fame Quarterback, though in Peyton Manning, it was at the end of his career.  The Broncos went to Super Bowl XLVIII, but were thrashed by the Seattle Seahawks. In Manning’s last year, he did enough for them to win Super Bowl 50, though that was more on the strength of their defense.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2018 Season.

The complete list can be found here,but as always we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. John Elway

2. Randy Gradishar

3. ShannonSharpe

4. RodSmith

5. ChampBailey

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for or All-Time Top 50 Carolina Panthers coming next!

As always we thank you for your support.

Selected in the second round (42nd overall) out of Utah State in 1980, Rulon Jones stayed in the Rocky Mountain region to begin his pro career and immediately stepped up as a pass-rushing threat. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 260 pounds, Jones possessed a rare combination of length, explosive speed, and high motor off the edge that allowed him to make an immediate impact in Denver's 3-4 front as a rookie.

Jones took over the starting right defensive end position in his second season in 1981 and held it down through 1987. Operating in Joe Collier’s defensive scheme, he developed into one of the premier interior and edge disruptors in the AFC. His peak stretch came in the mid-1980s, when he logged back-to-back double-digit sack campaigns in 1985 (10.0 sacks) and 1986 (13.5 sacks).

His dominant 1986 season earned him UPI AFC Defensive Player of the Year honors, a First-Team All-Pro selection, and his second straight Pro Bowl appearance. That season, Jones served as the pass-rushing centerpiece for a defense that propelled Denver to the AFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl XXI, followed by a second consecutive AFC title and Super Bowl XXII appearance the very next year.

Jones is officially credited with 52.5 sacks. However, including his pre-1982 totals (11.5 as a rookie in 1980 and 9.5 in 1981), his true tally stands at 73.5 total sacks.

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado in 1997, Matt Lepsis entered the league having played tight end for the Buffaloes. Denver’s legendary offensive line coach Alex Gibbs saw the potential for a swift, agile tackle ideally suited for Gibbs’ zone-blocking scheme, converting Lepsis to the offensive line, where he spent his rookie year learning the ropes and contributing on special teams during Denver's Super Bowl XXXII championship season.

Lepsis earned a full-time starting job in 1999 at right tackle, becoming the key protector on Denver's right side and contributing to the squad's repeat title run in Super Bowl XXXIII. His elite lateral movement made him a force in the run game, helping pave the way for a long line of 1,000-yard rushers, including Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, and Reuben Droughns.

His positional versatility shone through in 2004 when the Broncos asked him to slide over to left tackle to replace long-time anchor Gary Zimmerman's successor, Ephraim Salaam. Lepsis handled the transition seamlessly, locking down the quarterback's blind side for the remainder of his career. Over an extraordinary stretch from 1999 through 2007, he was a steady presence in the trenches, starting 133 out of 134 games he appeared in and only missing significant time due to a torn ACL midway through the 2006 season.

Despite consistently putting together textbook film, Lepsis was repeatedly overlooked for national honors like the Pro Bowl, operating as one of the league's most underrated edge blockers. He retired following the 2007 campaign, walking away on his own terms after a decade spent entirely in Mile High. Lepsis played in 150 regular-season games with 133 starts.

After rising to national stardom at Arizona State, Jake "The Snake" Plummer began his NFL career as an erratic, high-volatility passer for the Arizona Cardinals. Joining Mike Shanahan’s Denver Broncos as an unrestricted free agent in 2003, Plummer found the ideal scheme to unlock his full potential. Shanahan’s bootleg-heavy, zone-stretch offense played seamlessly into Plummer’s athleticism on the move and lethal accuracy on the roll-out.

Plummer’s decision-making transformed rapidly in Mile High. After throwing 90 touchdowns against 114 interceptions in Arizona, he dramatically flipped his script in Colorado, tossing 71 touchdowns to just 47 interceptions. His poise behind center delivered immediate results, leading Denver to playoff appearances in three of his four seasons as the starter.

His best season in the NFL arrived in 2005. Plummer orchestrated a blistering 13-3 regular season while setting a franchise record by throwing 229 consecutive passes without an interception. He earned his lone career Pro Bowl selection that year and guided Denver past the defending champion New England Patriots in the Divisional Round, taking the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game.

Despite boasting a remarkable 39-15 regular-season starting record in Denver (41-18 including the postseason), Plummer was replaced midway through the 2006 season by rookie Jay Cutler. Traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2007, Plummer chose to walk away from pro football on his own terms rather than play elsewhere, retiring to pursue business and life outside the game.

With Denver, Plummer played in 59 games and accumulated 11,631 passing yards, 71 passing touchdowns, 47 interceptions, 131 rushing carries, 687 rushing yards, and seven rushing touchdowns, while winning 72.2 percent of his games.

Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Temple in 1979, Steve Watson entered pro football with zero fanfare, yet developed into one of the most productive deep threats in franchise history. After working his way up through special teams, Watson earned a starting role at wide receiver in 1981 and immediately took the league by storm.

Watson's breakout 1981 season saw him catch 60 passes for 1,244 yards, leading the NFL with a staggering 20.7 yards per catch and a league-best 13 receiving touchdowns. That stellar performance earned him his sole career Pro Bowl selection and Second-Team All-Pro honors, establishing him as the focal point of Denver's passing attack.

He remained a high-volume weapon as John Elway assumed the quarterback reins in 1983. Watson posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 1984 (1,170 yards) and 1985 (1,157 yards), placing him in the top ten league-wide in receiving yards in both seasons. His ability to track deep passes downfield provided Elway with a trusted target during the early signature drives of his career.

Watson served as a key contributor on two AFC Championship squads, starting at wide receiver in Super Bowl XXI and appearing in Super Bowl XXII. A steady veteran presence until his retirement after the 1987 season, he walked away ranked near the top of every major receiving category in team history.

Watson played in 126 games with 353 receptions, 6,112 receiving yards, and 36 receiving touchdowns.