ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Through the years, the Denver Broncos have found plenty of success in reeling in undrafted rookies who become top-tier players, including guys such as Rod Smith, Chris Harris Jr. and C.J. Anderson.
But when it comes to the players the Broncos select with late-round picks in the draft, any team would be hard-pressed to do better than the Broncos did with Karl Mecklenburg in the 12th round of the 1983 draft. Mecklenburg was the 310th player chosen in that draft.
Mecklenburg had been an undersized nose tackle/defensive end at the University of Minnesota, where he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.