Christian McCaffrey’s next matchup comes with some history attached. The San Francisco 49ers running back is preparing to face the Broncos after he was one of the most talked-about prospects heading into the 2017 NFL Draft. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was Denver’s head coach back then, and according to NFL beat writer for Denver Gazette Chris Tomasson, the decision still carries some weight for him. Denver had the No. 20 pick in 2017, while Carolina selected McCaffrey eighth overall.

“He wasn’t a Bronco after the draft, which obviously hurt me & John (Elway, the GM),” Joseph said as reported by Denver Gazette reporter Chris Tomasson.

The Broncos had actually spent considerable time getting to know McCaffrey before the draft. Joseph and then-general manager John Elway met with him at the scouting combine, where Joseph made it clear that he liked what he saw and had no concerns about McCaffrey handling the pressure.

“Absolutely not. This kid’s a really good football player,” Joseph said. “You watch the tape; he’s a pro’s pro. So I’m excited to watch him this weekend and interview him [Thursday] night.”

McCaffrey’s side of the conversation was just as interesting. Speaking at the NFL Combine, he was asked about the possibility of landing with the Broncos and openly welcomed the idea. The connection to Denver was obvious, especially because his father, Ed McCaffrey, had played wide receiver for the Broncos.

“That would be awesome,” McCaffrey said. “That would be great. I would love to play there.”

The Broncos also brought McCaffrey to Denver for a pre-draft visit in April, giving Joseph and Elway another opportunity to evaluate him before draft night. Joseph continued to speak highly of the running back after that meeting. Asked about McCaffrey, he called him a player who could solve several problems for an offense because of his ability as a runner, receiver, and returner.

“He’s obviously going to be a great player for someone. He solved a lot of issues for an offense, even a football team. He’s a return guy. He has some slot ability as a receiver-type back. He is a first, second, and third down back from the backfield. As far as the player, he is a great prospect in this draft. Whoever gets that kid is lucky to have him,” Joseph said.

But the Broncos never got the chance to make the decision themselves. Carolina took McCaffrey with the eighth pick, 12 selections before Denver was scheduled to pick. The Broncos eventually stayed at No. 20 and selected offensive tackle Garett Bolles out of Utah. That means Denver did not pass on McCaffrey with its own selection, but the missed opportunity remained a what-if because the team had clearly done its homework on him.

Joseph’s comments also fit with how strongly Denver viewed McCaffrey before the draft. In April 2017, Joseph identified McCaffrey as one of the prospects who could bring more explosiveness to an offense that had struggled to create big plays the previous season.

“Every good offense needs a guy who can take the ball from the [line of scrimmage] and go the distance with it,” Joseph said at the time.

Turns out Joseph knew what he was looking at. McCaffrey has since made a habit of making defenses pay in more ways than one, racking up 7,755 rushing yards and 5,494 receiving yards in his career. His 2023 season was the real showstopper in San Francisco, when he posted 1,459 rushing yards, 564 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns.

He had been right back at it in 2025, finishing with 1,202 rushing yards, 924 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns. Three games into 2026, he already has 166 rushing yards and three more scores, giving Denver plenty to think about before Sunday.

Now, those old “what ifs” can take a back seat. The Broncos head to San Francisco on Sunday, October 4, where McCaffrey and Joseph will meet again, with their old draft story still in the background. This time, Joseph will have to slow down the player he once wanted in Denver.