Comparisons across generations are rarely fair. However, the Denver Broncos selection of Noah Fant in the 2019 NFL draft necessitates one. That night in Nashville, Denver did something that they haven’t done in 47-years and only once in their history, drafted a tight end in the first round.
In 1972, with the 6th overall pick, the Denver Broncos selected tight end Riley Odoms out of Houston. At the time, Odoms selection was the highest for a tight end in the NFL draft since Mike Ditka in 1961. Expectations for Odoms were high and he met every one and excelled as the greatest tight end in Broncos history until Shannon Sharpe hit the scene in 1990.