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Broncos' legend continues to be snubbed despite superb career numbers
TL;DR
Rod Smith, the all-time leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns for the Denver Broncos, continues to be overlooked for the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite impressive career stats. His absence from recent lists of top undrafted NFL players highlights this ongoing snub.
Key points
- Rod Smith is the all-time leader for the Denver Broncos in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
- He ranks 40th in NFL history with 11,389 receiving yards.
- Smith is often overlooked for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- He was excluded from a recent list of top undrafted NFL players.
Denver BroncosRod Smith
Broncos' legend continues to be snubbed despite superb career numbers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the 2026 NFL Draft kicking off this week, anticipation is in the air. The draft is one of the biggest events of the calendar year in the NFL, but following the draft is the period where teams can sign players who went undrafted.
Few teams have the rich history with undrafted free agents that the Denver Broncos can brag about. Chris Harris Jr., C.J. Anderson, Steve Watson, Lionel Taylor and Rich Karlis are just some of the great players the Broncos have found as undrafted players.
But former wide receiver Rod Smith stands above them all. Smith is still the team's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in a career. He ranks 40th in NFL history with 11,389 yards receiving and, truthfully, deserves a long look for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
However, his name is rarely mentioned in connection with those talks and in a recent list of the top 10 undrafted players in NFL history, written by Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports, Smith is left off the list. Perhaps it's because his common name makes him somewhat forgettable, or the fact that his career ended two decades ago, but Smith often goes overlooked.
Rod Smith is a top 10 undrafted free agent in NFL history
Many of Sullivan's picks are tough to argue with. He has Kurt Warner at No. 1 and Warren Moon at No. 2. John Randle checks in at No. 3 and recent Hall-of-Fame inductee Antonio Gates is at No. 4. That all makes sense.
But you could put Smith in over Drew Pearson, Priest Holmes and possibly even Tony Romo, despite Romo having a much bigger name.
Q&A
Why is Rod Smith not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Rod Smith is often overlooked for the Hall of Fame despite his record-breaking career numbers, possibly due to his common name and the fact that his career ended two decades ago.
What are Rod Smith's career statistics in the NFL?
Rod Smith ranks 40th in NFL history with 11,389 receiving yards and holds the Denver Broncos' records for all-time receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Who are some notable undrafted players in NFL history?
Notable undrafted players include Chris Harris Jr., C.J. Anderson, Steve Watson, Lionel Taylor, and Rich Karlis, with Rod Smith being the most distinguished among them.
What impact does the NFL Draft have on undrafted free agents?
The NFL Draft creates opportunities for teams to sign undrafted free agents, which can lead to the discovery of exceptional talent, as seen in the Broncos' history.
