Sports

The Denver Broncos' 5 Worst Draft Picks in the Last 10 Years

By HC Green Lindys Sports

Updated June 3, 2026 6:16 AM

Drafting is an inexact science. Even the best of the best miss for any number of reasons-injuries, poor scheme fit, off-the-field issues, lack of development, and so on. With the 2026 NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, things should be quiet on the personnel side until training camps open in July.

With that in mind, it seems like the perfect time to go back over the last 10 drafts to identify picks which didn't pan out for each of the 32 clubs. Before we begin, let's set the ground rules: We're starting with the 2016 draft, so no players from the 2026 draft are eligible.

Now that we've established the parameters, here are the Denver Broncos' five worst draft picks of the past decade:

Dishonorable Mentions

RB Royce Freeman (82nd Overall, 2018)
TE Noah Fant (20th Overall, 2019)
CB Michael Ojemudia (77th Overall, 2020)
WR Marvin Mims (63rd Overall, 2023)

5) TE Greg Dulcich, 80th Overall (2022)

An explosive playmaker at UCLA, Dulcich was supposed to provide a downfield threat for a new Russell Wilson-led offense. He showed flashes as a rookie but struggled to stay healthy, playing just 12 of 34 games in his first two years. The Broncos cut Dulcich in November 2024. He showed enough with Miami a season ago to be re-signed, but his time with Denver was a dud.

4) LB Drew Sanders, 67th Overall (2023)

Sanders was selected to bring versatility and pass rush to a middling linebacking corps. Instead, the former Razorback has battled injury woes. A part-time player as a rookie, Sanders missed much of his sophomore year after tearing his Achilles in the offseason. Last year, he sustained a foot injury in camp and never played a down. He's moving to outside linebacker for 2026, which could be his last chance to stick.

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3) WR KJ Hamler, 46th Overall (2020)

After selecting Jerry Jeudy in Round 1, the Broncos doubled up at receiver, nabbing Hamler midway through the second round. Hamler, who was ticketed to man the slot for Drew Lock, had modest numbers as a rookie amid issues with his hamstring. In Year 2, he tore his ACL. In Year 3, he again dealt with hamstring issues. A torn pec and a pericarditis diagnosis ended his time with the Broncos-though at least he enjoys riding a scooter.

2) WR Carlos Henderson, 82nd Overall (2017)

Henderson missed his entire rookie year after tearing a ligament in his thumb and did not report to camp on time the following season. A one-game suspension for substance abuse followed in August, and the Broncos released him on Sept. 1, 2018. Henderson never played a down in a regular-season game and was out of the NFL less than two years after being selected.

1) QB Paxton Lynch, 26th Overall (2016)

Denver parted with a third-round pick to move up five spots and select Lynch with the idea that he'd follow Trevor Siemian as QB1. Instead, Lynch made just four starts in two seasons with the Broncos. In 2018, Lynch finished camp behind journeyman Case Keenum and Chad Kelly, and he'd be released after the Broncos acquired Kevin Hogan. Lynch resurfaced for brief stints in Seattle and Pittsburgh but never took a snap with either club.

This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 6:00 AM.