BEVO BEAT
Longhorns drafted in the NFL: Denver Broncos
Posted April 23rd, 2016
Editor’s note: Leading up to the 2016 Draft, we took a look at each NFL team’s Longhorn draft history.
Over the next week leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft on April 28, we’re taking a look at the best Texas Longhorns players drafted by each team.
Denver Broncos ( 1960-present)
Best pick: Dan Neil, offensive lineman, 1997
Neil won two Super Bowl rings, blocked for a 2,000-yard rusher and one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, John Elway. Neil was the 67th pick of the 1997 draft and started 104 games in eight seasons. He never made a Pro Bowl, but his offensive line in 1998 and 1999 was considered the best unit in the NFL as Terrell Davis dominated the league.
Most recent: Tim Crowder, 2007
Crowder played at Texas from 2003-2006 and recorded 35 tackles as a true freshman. He was a first team All-Big 12 player as a junior. His senior season he recorded 21 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks. He was taken by the Broncos and started one game his rookie season. He spent two seasons in Denver and left for Tampa Bay following the coaching change by the Broncos. He started 13 games with the Buccaneers and played in 41.
First player: Ray Poage, tight end, 1963
Poage was also taken by the Vikings in the NFL Draft, where he played. He was never a Bronco, but officially, he’s the Bronco’s first Longhorn pick, going 11th in the second round.
Of note: Shane Dronett was taken 54th overall in 1992 and played four seasons in Denver, starting 35 games. Dronett then played against the Broncos in the 1999 Super Bowl that the Broncos won. He was the right-side defensive tackle, Dan Neil was the right-side guard.
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