The Denver Broncos had no problem identifying talent in the early days of the AFL, but getting the talent to suit up for them was a different story.
The Broncos were one of the founding members of the AFL in 1960 and they directly competed against the more established NFL for 10 years until the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. Before that merger, it was tough to land top talent coming out of college.
In the first-ever AFL draft, Denver used a first-round pick in 1960 to select kicker Roger LeClerc. He opted to instead play for the Chicago Bears, a team that joined the NFL in 1919. LeClerc eventually did play one season for the Broncos in 1967 before hanging up his cleats.
The following year, Denver used a first-round pick on running back Bob Gaiters. He decided to instead play for the New York Giants, a team that had been playing in the NFL since 1925. Gaiters, like LeClerc, did play one season in Denver later in his career.
In 1962, the Broncos drafted Merlin Olsen with their first-round pick. Olsen opted to instead join the Los Angeles Rams, a team originally founded in 1936. Olsen went on to earn 14 Pro Bowl selections on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The next year, Denver picked defensive back Kermit Alexander, and he picked the San Francisco 49ers (founded in 1946).
In 1964, the Broncos used a first-round pick on offensive lineman Bob Brown, who opted to instead join the Philadelphia Eagles (founded in 1933). Brown made six Pro Bowls during his career and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
The following year, Denver picked linebacker Dick Butkus in the first round. He joined the Bears and went on to have a Hall of Fame career.
In 1966, the Broncos picked defensive lineman Jerry Shay, who opted to instead play for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings (a 1960 expansion team).
Things finally took a turn for the better in 1967 when Denver drafted running back Floyd Little. He became the first player drafted by the Broncos in the first round to actually join the team, and he went on to have a Hall of Fame career.
One more Hall of Famer got away before the 1970 merger, but it was Denver’s own mistake, not the player’s decision. The Broncos traded defensive lineman Curley Culp to the Kansas City Chiefs after drafting him in the first round in 1968 and he went on to have a Hall of Fame career.
The Broncos also drafted defensive back Paul Krause (12th round in 1964) and wide receiver Bob Hayes (14th round in 1964). They both chose to play for NFL teams instead and both went on to reach the Hall of Fame.
In all, Denver drafted seven future Hall of Famers in the 1960s, but only one of them (Little) ever played a single down for the Broncos. Thank goodness for that AFL-NFL merger. Denver has drafted four Hall of Famers since 1970: linebacker Randy Gradishar, safety Steve Atwater, tight end Shannon Sharpe and running back Terrell Davis. Those four players spent all of most of their careers with the Broncos, and linebacker Von Miller will join them in Canton after he retires.
View the team’s first-round picks from 1960-1968 below, with two other Hall of Famers listed at the end.
1
1960: K Roger LeClerc (played for Bears)
2
1961: RB Bob Gaiters (played for Giants)
3
1962: DL Merlin Olsen (played for Rams)
4
1963: DB Kermit Alexander (played for 49ers)
5
1964: OL Bob Brown (played for Eagles)
6
1965: LB Dick Butkus (played for Bears)
7
1966: DL Jerry Shay (played for Vikings)
8
1967: RB Floyd Little (played for Broncos)
9
1968: DL Curley Culp (traded to Chiefs)
10
1964: DL Paul Krause (12th round; played for Washington)
11
1964: WR Bob Hayes (14th round; played for Cowboys)
