The Broncos enter the 2008 NFL Draft with the 12th overall selection. It will mark the 33rd first-round pick for the Broncos since the inception of the common draft in 1967 as well as the 12th such selection under Head Coach Mike Shanahan (1995-Pres.). All-time, Denver has selected a player with the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft just once. In 1971, the Broncos chose Southern California T Marv Montgomery with the 12th pick. Montgomery played six seasons with the Broncos (1971-76), appearing in 57 career games (25 starts) in a Denver uniform before finishing his career with New Orleans (1976-77) and Atlanta (1978).
Below is a look at the last 10 players selected with the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Among the players selected at No. 12 overall during this time were Maryland LB Shawne Merriman (2005, S.D.), a three-time Pro Bowler, and Oregon DT Haloti Ngata (2006, Bal.).
LAST 10 NFL DRAFT CHOICES AT NO. 12 OVERALL
Year Team Player Pos. School
2007 Buffalo Marshawn Lynch RB California
2006 Baltimore Haloti Ngata DT Oregon
2005 San Diego Shawne Merriman LB Maryland
2004 N.Y. Jets Jonathan Vilma LB Miami (Fla.)
2003 St. Louis Jimmy Kennedy DT Penn State
2002 Arizona Wendell Bryant DT Wisconsin
2001 St. Louis Damione Lewis DT Miami (Fla.)
2000 N.Y. Jets Shaun Ellis DE Tennessee
1999 Chicago Cade McNown QB UCLA
1998 Atlanta Keith Brooking LB Georgia Tech
The 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft also produced Miami DT Warren Sapp (T..B., 1995), who earned eight Pro Bowl selections while being named to the 1990s NFL All Decade Team and receiving the 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Florida State RB Warrick Dunn (T.B., 1997), a three-time Pro Bowler, and Southern California LB Clay Matthews (Cle., 1978), a four-time Pro Bowler, also were taken with the 12th overall pick in the draft.