How the Denver Broncos Fumbled a Dynasty in the 2017 NFL Draft

I like to highlight how my favorite team, the Denver Broncos, wins at drafts so it is only right that I highlight when the team makes moves that work out less than expected. Yes, the NFL Draft is an inexact science and when dealing with later picks anything can happen but we can still get a gauge of the team’s ability to scout talent by checking back on an entire draft class.

And the 2017 draft class is just purely brutal when you look back at it.

Here are the moves the Broncos made along with the very next players at the position taken. It is not pretty.

All of this happened in the 2017 draft:

OT Ryan Ramczyk was the very next tackle taken after Denver took Garett Bolles. Even at the time drafting Bolles high was considered a huge risk and the Broncos still took him with a first round pick.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin was the very next receiver drafted after Carlos Henderson.

Then the big one: NFL 100 #7 overall player George Kittle was the next tight end taken after Jake Butt. But no, it gets worse. He was the very next pick after Butt!

Imagine that offense with a half competent quarterback. And that is why drafting matters so much. That is how teams that draft well like the Patriots built a 20 year dynasty off 4th and 5th rounders while other teams have to spend crazy in free agency or do risky trades to stay above water.

Hopefully the 2021 NFL Draft is not one Elway throws away because all of the foundation is built for a potential dynastic team going forward.