Broncos All-Time Roster: Ryan Clady tops list of tackles
Jul 16, 2021, 1:30 PM
The Denver Broncos have seen a plethora of talented players since the merger of the American and National Football Leagues in 1970.
While it may be easy for Broncos Country to explain why a particular quarterback or running back is the best of his generation, this list is here to tackle which Broncos players are the best of all time.
Every Fan host was tasked with ranking top Broncos players’ skillsets to come up with the greatest Broncos roster.
This all-time roster will have a few no-brainers on it, but ultimately the Fan hosts decided who was the best of the best.
Here is the Broncos’ all-time roster at tackle:
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Top Three:
1. Ryan Clady
2. Gary Zimmerman
3. Tony Jones
Honorable Mentions:
4. Orlando Franklin
5. Matt Lepsis
6. Tyler Polumbus
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Ryan Clady
Ryan Clady spent eight seasons with the Denver Broncos where he earned four Pro Bowl invites and made two All-Pro teams during that time.
Clady was drafted No. 12 in the 2008 draft by the Broncos and started every game at left tackle in his first five seasons in the league.
In 2008, Clady allowed just half a sack and finished third in voting for the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year award. The following season, he was named the top tackle in the NFL and surrendered only a half-sack through his first 20 NFL games, a league record.
Gary Zimmerman
Gary Zimmerman was originally selected in the 1st round of the 1984 Supplemental Draft by NY Giants and in 1984 USFL Draft by LA Express where he spent 1984 and ’85 seasons.
After he was traded during the 1993 preseason, he finished out his career as a Denver Bronco (1993-97) where he helped his team win Super Bowl XXXII.
Zimmerman played in 184 NFL games during his career, 108 for the Vikings. He was named All-Pro 8 times and selected to 7 Pro Bowls. The NFL named him to the All-Decade teams for 1980 and 1990. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Tony Jones
Tony Jones played 13 years in the NFL and played four seasons for the Denver Broncos at tackle from 1997-2000. He was the team’s right tackle during their first world championship season in 1997.
Jones took over the left tackle position in 1998 as Denver earned another title. Jones earned Pro Bowl honors that season as he protected John Elway’s blind side.
Over four seasons in Denver Jones started all 60 games.
