ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Should the Denver Broncos stay put in the first round of the NFL draft and use their No. 5 pick on a player they hope can help lead the rebound from last season’s 5-11 record, that player will also join a rather exclusive club in the franchise’s history.
That’s because the list of those the Broncos have picked at No. 5 in the draft since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 consists of one name: tight end Riley Odoms.
The Broncos selected Odoms No. 5 in 1972. He went on to play 12 seasons -- he played two games in 1983, which was current president of football operations/general manager John Elway’s rookie season -- and finished with 396 catches for 5,755 yards as well as 41 touchdowns.