Broncos Legends: Top-5 Wide Receivers of All Time

There have been some great wide receivers in Denver Broncos history, but who are the top-5?

The Denver Broncos have no wide receivers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but that doesn't mean the team hasn't had some great ones. In fact, there are two who donned the Orange and Blue who should be in Canton. 

It's time to answer the question: who are the five greatest receivers in Broncos history?

Here is the list in descending order and the reasons why they have been selected for this illustrious list.

<p class="">5. Ed McCaffery</p>

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The toughest receiver to ever come across the middle, McCaffery was a great receiver and fan favorite. His career flourished under Mike Shanahan after being given little chance to succeed in the NFL early on. 

McCaffrey got by on grit, toughness, sure hands, and speed that often surprised people. 'Eddy Mac' comes in at fifth in yards receiving and receptions while placing fourth in touchdowns for the Broncos all time. 

This tough-as-nails competitor gets on this list as much for his grit as he does for his receiving prowess.

<p class="">4. Haven Moses</p>

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Moses was one of the best deep-threat receivers ever in the NFL. His 18 yards per reception is better than any Broncos player who caught at least 100 passes for the team. 

Moses would rank much higher in the career receptions and yardage list had he come to the Broncos right away, but he started his career with the Buffalo Bills. Thankfully, a dispute with a small piece of equipment landed him in the Orange and Blue. 

Even though he arrived in Denver as he was passing his prime, Moses still ranks No. 9 in receiving yards, No. 11 in receptions, and is tied for No. 5 in touchdowns. 

<p class="">3. Demaryius Thomas</p>

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An athletically gifted player with terrific size for the position, Thomas flourished with Peyton Manning throwing the ball. Thomas is the holder of four of the top 10 Broncos receiving-yards season and still holds the single-season record. 

For their first three years together, the Manning-to-Thomas combination was nearly unstoppable (from 2012 to 2014). Thomas made the trip to the Pro Bowl four times and has two second-team All-Pro awards. Had he been able to play his entire career with Manning, Thomas may have found his way into the Hall of Fame.

Thomas passed away unexpectedly in December of 2021. Rest in peace. 

<p class="">2. Lionel Taylor</p>

DenverBroncos.com

The guy who was the first to catch 100 passes in a season in the league, and who held three of the 15 greatest season reception totals in the NFL for more than two decades after retirement, has to end up on this list. Everyone knew that if the ball came near him, Taylor was going to catch it. 

He led the league in receptions five times in a 10-year career (he was a linebacker his first season). He was a perennial AFL All-Pro and All-Star, receiving four first-team All-Pro awards and four trips to the All-Star game. 

Taylor was also in the running for the AFL's Player of the Year award in 1960. 

<p class="">1. Rod Smith</p>

Byron Hetzler-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2006 Byron Hetzler

Rod Smith played the game with heart, and that helped him to become the greatest receiver in Broncos history. Not only is he the leading receiver in yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns, but at one point in the early 2000s, he was in the argument for being the best in the NFL.

This was during a time when Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison, and others were in their prime. Smith also holds the Broncos' single-season record for the most receptions and has the second-most yards in an individual campaign. He's a Hall-of-Fame candidate, and hopefully, he gets his due.

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