With the NFL Draft approaching, The Gazette has put together an all-time draft of players from Colorado high schools or colleges by the round in which they were selected.

FIRST ROUND

THE PICK: Christian McCaffrey, RB

Valor Christian H.S., eighth overall, 2017, Carolina Panthers

The injuries are reason for pause, but for sheer excellence no first-round draft pick from Colorado compares with Run CMC. Twice he’s led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage, he’s a three-time first-team All-Pro and was the 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year. The Valor Christian graduate and son of Denver Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey, he has scored 99 touchdowns in 112 NFL games. It’s the games played that is the only reason he’s not in even another tier among the all-time greats, as three of his nine seasons have seen him limited to seven games or fewer.

MOST INTERESTING Byron “Whizzer” White, RB

Wellington H.S., University of Colorado, fourth overall, 1938, Pittsburgh Pirates

White was the Heisman Trophy runner-up and class valedictorian at CU. He led the NFL in rushing as a rookie and was a first-team All-Pro selection. At $15,800, he was also the NFL’s highest-paid player. He then studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, ending his time with the Pirates (who soon after changed their name to the Steelers). When war forced White’s return to the U.S., he played the 1940 (leading the NFL in rushing again) and ’41 seasons with Detroit while concurrently studying law at Yale. He then served as an officer in the Navy in the Pacific Theater, ending his football career. He eventually served as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1962 to 1993.

Also on the board: Stan Brock, T (CU, 12^th overall, 2013, New Orleans), Daniel Graham, TE (Thomas Jefferson H.S., CU, 21^st overall, 2002, New England Patriots), Travis Hunter, CB/WR (CU, 2^nd overall, 2025, Jacksonville Jaguars); Nate Solder, OL (Buena Vista H.S., CU, 17^th overall, 2011, New England Patriots)

SECOND ROUND

THE PICK: Calais Campbell, DE

Denver South H.S., 50^th overall, 2008, Arizona Cardinals

For 18 years, mostly with Arizona, Jacksonville and Baltimore, the 6-foot-8, 315-pound Campbell has been racking up sacks at a consistent rate – 15 seasons with at least five. His 117 sacks place him 25^th all-time since the NFL made sacks an official statistic in 1982. Of the names ahead of him, 15 are already enshrined in Canton and many of the others, like Von Miller, will be as soon as they become eligible.

ALERT: TRADING UP

Banking on the state’s surging population providing a reserve of talent in the coming years, we have traded undisclosed future picks for an additional 2^nd round selection. Is this simply an excuse to include another player in what has been the deepest round of selections for Colorado talent? I mean, we’re already leaving off 15-year linebacker Chad Brown and Andre Gurode, who made five consecutive Pro Bowls as the Cowboys’ center. Guilty as charged.

THE PICK: Vincent Jackson, WR

Widefield H.S., Northern Colorado, 61^st overall, 2005, San Diego Chargers

What would a team of Colorado talent be without this homegrown star from Colorado Springs, who was then an All-American in Greeley before launching a steady and superb NFL career? Jackson amassed 1,000-plus receiving yards six times in seven years (finishing with 9,080) and twice led the NFL in yards per reception.

HIGHEST CEILING: Trey McBride, TE

Fort Morgan H.S., Colorado State, 55^th overall, 2022, Arizona Cardinals

The full picture of yet another born-and-raised Centennial State star’s NFL career hasn’t been revealed, but what he’s shown has been elite. He became (briefly) the highest-paid tight end in the league before George Kittle’s $19.1 million annual salary eclipsed his $19 million deal.

Also on the board: Al Baker, DE (Colorado State, 40^th overall, 1978, Detroit Lions); Chad Brown, LB (Colorado, 44^th overall, Pittsburgh Steelers 1993); Andre Gurode, C (Colorado, 37^th overall, 2002, Dallas Cowboys); Dalton Risner, OL (Wiggins H.S., 41^st overall, 2019, Denver Broncos)

THIRD ROUND

THE PICK: Joey Porter, LB

Colorado State, 73^rd overall, 1999, Pittsburgh Steelers

A four-time Pro Bowl selection and pick for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade Team for the 2000s, Porter transitioned from tight end to wide receiver to defensive line in his three seasons in Fort Collins before becoming one of the all-time greats for Pittsburgh. He ranks sixth in Steelers history in tackles for loss and seventh in sacks.

PART OF HISTORY: Boyd Dowler, WR

Colorado, 25^th overall, 1959, Green Bay Packers

Dowler was with Green Bay through the 1960s, starting in the first Super Bowl and catching a touchdown the following year in the second. He was also a key contributor on the Packers’ NFL championship teams in 1961, 1962 and 1965. He caught 474 passes for 7,270 yards and 40 touchdowns in his career.

Also on the board: Dick Anderson, DB (CU, 73^rd overall, 1968, Miami Dolphins); Don Cockroft, K (Fort Carson H.S./Adams State, 55th overall, 1967, Cleveland Browns); Herman Heard, RB (Denver South H.S./Fort Lewis/CSU-Pueblo, 61^st overall, 1984, Kansas City Chiefs); Dave Logan, WR (Wheat Ridge H.S./CU, 65^th overall, 1975, Cleveland Browns)

FOURTH ROUND

THE PICK: Cliff Branch, WR

Colorado, 98th overall, 1972, Oakland Raiders

A track & field star as well as football star at CU, Branch brought his “speed kills” motto into a 14-year career with the Raiders. He won three Super Bowls, was a three-time first-team All-Pro pick and is enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

MOST STEADY: David Bakhtiari, OT

Colorado, 109^th overall, 2013, Green Bay Packers

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound California native played 11 years, twice earning first-team All-Pro status and adding second-team honors twice. At left tackle, he protected Aaron Rodgers blind side with 131 games played, all starts.

Also on the board: Kalen Ballage, RB (Falcon H.S., 131^st overall, 2018, Miami Dolphins); Barry Helton, P (Simla H.S., CU, 102^nd overall, 1988, San Francisco 49ers); Aaron Smith, DE (Sierra H.S./Northern Colorado, 109th overall, 1999, Pittsburgh Steelers); Chuck Walton, OL (Canon City H.S., 55^th overall, 1963, Detroit Lions)

FIFTH ROUND

THE PICK: Frank Clarke, WR

Colorado, 61^st overall, 1956, Cleveland Browns

Played 11 years with Cleveland and Dallas, finishing with 5,426 receiving yards and twice leading the league in yards per reception. Scored 51 touchdowns, including an NFL-best 14 in 1962, which stood as a franchise receiving record for the Cowboys until Terrell Owens eclipsed it in 2007.

MOST STAR-ADJACENT: John Wooten, OL (Colorado, 53^rd overall, 1959, Cleveland Browns)

Wooten’s 10 years in the NFL included a run on Cleveland’s offensive line from 1959 through 1967 – a run that overlapped almost entirely with Jim Brown. Brown led the league in rushing in eight of his nine NFL seasons, many behind the blocking of the two-time Pro Bowl selection.

Also on the board: Daniel Carlson, K (The Classical Academy, 167^th overall, 2018, Minnesota Vikings); Jason Craft, DB (CSU, 160^th overall, 1999, Jacksonville Jaguars); Tony Martin, WR (Colorado Mesa, 126^th overall, 1989, New York Jets)

SIXTH ROUND

THE PICK: Mason Crosby, K (CU, 193^rd overall, Green Bay, 2007)

Green Bay’s all-time leading scorer with 1,918 regular-season points (11^th in NFL history). He also holds franchise records for most field goals made (395), extra points (733) and consecutive games played (258). Finished his career 44-of-80 on attempts from 50 yards or longer.

MOST PERFECTLY IMPATIENT: Dale Dodrill, LB

Loveland H.S./Colorado State, 67^th overall, 1951, Pittsburgh Steelers

After graduating from Loveland High School and serving in World War II in Europe, Dodrill didn’t want to sit out his freshman year when returning to play college football. That’s what he would have to do at Colorado or Denver. So he went to CSU (then Colorado A&M) and became a standout immediately, carrying that into nine years with the Pittsburgh Steelers that included four Pro Bowl selections and three times on the All-Pro first or second team. He then coached the Broncos as an assistant for six years.

Also on the board: Joel Dreessen, TE (CSU, 198^th overall, 2005, New York Jets); Ryan Jensen, OT (Fort Morgan H.S./CSU-Pueblo, 203^rd overall, 2014, Baltimore Ravens)

SEVENTH ROUND

THE PICK: Greg Biekert, LB

Longmont H.S./CU, 181^st overall, 1993, Oakland Raiders

He was available in the seventh round despite a decorated career at Colorado that left him as the program’s No. 2 all-time tackler. He did one better in the pros, as his 918 total tackles rank first in Raiders franchise history. It was Biekert who recovered what initially looked like a fumble from Tom Brady after a hit from Charles Woodson in a 2001 AFC divisional playoff game – now known as the Tuck Rule Game –  but was instead ruled an incomplete pass.

BEST STAYING POWER: Koy Detmer, QB (Colorado, 207^th overall, 1997, Philadelphia Eagles)

Detmer’s career, improbably, spanned nine seasons – even longer than the eight years logged by his Heisman Trophy-winning brother, Ty. Koy started five games as a rookie in 1998 for the Eagles, and he would go on to start just three more games in his career. But year after year Philadelphia kept him on board behind Donovan McNabb.

Also on the board: Bryce Fisher, DE (Air Force, 248^th overall, 1999, Buffalo Bills); Brad Jones, LB (Colorado, 218^th overall, 2009, Green Bay Packers); Oscar Reed, RB (CSU, 167^th overall, 1968, Minnesota Vikings)

LATE ROUNDS (the current draft format includes seven rounds)

THE PICK: Chad Hennings, DL

Air Force, 11^th round – 290^th overall – 1988, Dallas Cowboys

The winner of the Outland Trophy after leading the nation with 24 sacks as a senior, Hennings fell deep in the draft because of his military commitment. When he entered the NFL as a 26-year-old rookie after flying combat missions as an A-10 pilot, he bolstered Dallas’ defensive line and helped the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories.

BEST INTERRUPTED CAREER: Tom Brookshier, DB

Colorado, 10^th round – 118^th overall – 1953, Philadelphia Eagles

After making eight interceptions as a rookie in 1953, Brookshier missed the next two seasons of his prime to military service (serving as an Air Force assistant for part of that time). He returned in 1956 and was a first-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl selection, all with Philadelphia.

Also on the board: Bill Kenney, QB (Northern Colorado, 333^rd overall – 12^th round – 1978, Miami Dolphins); Whitney Paul, LB (Colorado, 10^th round – 277^th overall – 1976, Kansas City Chiefs)

UNDRAFTED

THE PICKUP: Dutch Clark (Pueblo Central HS/Colorado College, 1931)

It’s not that Clark went undrafted, he just predated the event. Clark earned first-team All-Pro honors in each of his six full seasons with the Portsmouth Spartans and Detroit Lions, was named the Player of the 1930s by the Associated Press and was part of the NFL’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1951.

MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Phillip Lindsay, RB (Denver South H.S./Colorado, 2018)

Picked up as an undrafted free agent by his hometown Denver Broncos, Lindsay rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. He was the first undrafted offensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl.

Also available: Morgan Fox, DL (Fountain-Fort Carson H.S./CSU-Pueblo, 2016); Ben Garland, OL/DL (Grand Junction Central H.S./Air Force, 2014); Erik Pears, OT (Kennedy H.S./CSU, 2006); Mike Pennel, DT (Grandview H.S./CSU-Pueblo, 2014)