Projecting three future Hall of Famers for the Broncos

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2024 will officially be inducted on Aug. 3.

With less than a month until the annual event in Canton, Ohio, we're examining which players — past and present — on the league's 32 teams we think will one day receive a similar honor.

Here are three former and current Denver Broncos who should eventually receive football immortality.

Outside linebacker Von Miller

Miller is entering his 14th season with the Buffalo Bills and must wait five years after retiring to be eligible for the HOF.

When Miller hangs up his cleats, he will rank among the greatest players in Broncos history. He helped Denver win Super Bowl 50, earning the game's MVP honors and made eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons with the club.

According to Pro Football Reference's HOF monitor, Miller's score (98.78) is just below average for an OLB (103). He should still make it, as there are OLBs in Canton with less impressive resumes.

Cornerback Patrick Surtain II

Although Surtain is only 24, he has established himself as one of the best defensive backs in the league. Through his first three seasons, the ninth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft has seven interceptions, 36 passes defended , and was named first-team All-Pro in 2022.

Former Denver Broncos corner and HOFer Champ Bailey thinks Surtain II is on track to become one of the greatest defensive backs ever.

"When he came out, I said … the sky's the limit for him," Bailey said in September 2023, via John Riker of the team website. "He can have a Hall-of-Fame career, and he's on his way. I'm not going to shy away from putting those lofty goals in front of him."

Wide receiver Rod Smith

Smith is a borderline candidate for the HOF. He played 13 seasons with the Broncos from 1995-2006, becoming the franchise's all-time receiving leader (849 receptions for 11,389 yards and 68 TD catches).

He may have generated better numbers on a pass-first team. The Broncos had six RBs eclipse 1,000 rushing yards during Smith's career. Thus, his HOF monitor score (71.07) is below average for a WR (101).

Still, Smith was an integral part of Broncos teams that repeated as Super Bowl champions in 1997 and 1998. More importantly, he remained productive after HOF QB John Elway retired in 1999. In 2001, he led the league in receptions ( 113 in 15 games ) while HOF wideouts Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice were still playing.