ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- In a bold move, the Denver Broncos selected quarterback Tim Tebow of Florida with the 25th pick in the NFL draft.

Friday afternoon, after a weather-related delay, Tebow finally made it to his first news conference at Broncos Dove Valley headquarters.

Tebow said that that when he received a call with a 303 area code, he didn't know whether or not to pick it up until his agent, Jimmy Sexton, told him, "Yeah, pick it up! Pick it up!".

"I answered it and it was coach (Josh) McDaniels," Tebow told reporters.

"I'm just so excited. It truly is a blessing. To put in all the work, and for so many people to invest in me and care about me and my life ... and to have it pay off ... I'm just so excited," Tebow said.

"I can't be more thankful for him deciding to take me," he said. "That will be one of my biggest goals is proving him right and making him proud."

Some didn't think the former Heisman Trophy winner and southpaw quarterback would be selected in the first round.

"Over last few weeks, we really hit it off. I was hoping and praying that was where I could play," Tebow said of McDaniels.

Tebow posed with his new Broncos #10 jersey after taking questions Friday.

Even though Tebow helped the University of Florida win two national championships in the Gators' run-heavy system, some analysts criticized his sidearm throwing motion and believed his skills may not translate to some NFL teams' pass-centric offenses.

McDaniels believes Tebow will fit in just fine in Denver and raved about him last week.

The Denver Broncos showed they believed in Tebow, paying a big price to get him by giving up their second (No. 43), third (No. 70) and fourth (No. 114) round picks to get the Baltimore Raven's pick at No. 25. They also passed up two more polished quarterbacks, Texas' Colt McCoy and Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen.

Tebow, at 6-feet-3 and 236 pounds, is arguably the most famous college football player in America. He threw 88 touchdown passes during his four-year career at Florida and had just 18 interceptions.

He joins quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn on the Broncos roster.

Although it's highly unlikely he'll be the starting quarterback in five months' time, Tebow will begin his NFL career Sept. 12 in his hometown of Jacksonville when the Broncos play the Jaguars in the season opener.

It's not known if he will wear his college No. 15, which was just made available when the Broncos traded Brandon Marshall last week.

(Do you think Tebow can help the team? Was it a wise pick for the Broncos? Let us know! Leave your comments below).

McDaniels Raves About Tebow

With his athleticism, Tebow could play tight end or on special teams, too, but McDaniels said he selected Tebow for his QB skills.

Although he has started to correct his sidearm throwing motion, Tebow will have to adjust to taking snaps under centre and dropping back while dodging the pass rush after operating almost exclusively out of the shotgun in college.

At his pre-draft news conference, McDaniels gushed about Tebow, who thoroughly impressed him and his staff during a visit to Dove Valley.

“You look at the tape, and the only thing that you can say about the tape that isn't flattering or very impressive is that he dips the ball a hair (in his throwing motion). He has already fixed that,” McDaniels said. “I think that's something that you can fix through repetition. He's already done it. He proved that at his pro day. Everything else that you're watching on film is accurate, tough, smart, good leader, versatile, can move out of the pocket, can move in the pocket, can run with the ball. What is he, the third-leading passer all-time and the leading scorer in rushing touchdowns over Herschel (Walker)?

“There are so many things that you can say about the kid,” McDaniels said. “Then, to top that all off, he's every bit the person that you read about before you got the chance to meet him. He's very enthusiastic, wants to work hard, smart, bright, one of the smarter players I've ever been around in terms of coming out of college.”

Asked last week how quickly Tebow could play quarterback in the NFL, McDaniels said that depended on who picked him.

“If you talk to him, it'll be the day he's drafted. But I don't know that. That's a good question. I think it depends on where he goes, the system he's going into, what you're trying to do with him and also who's there,” McDaniels said. “He's got to compete. If he was here, he's got to compete with players that have already played in the National Football League and started a lot of games and won games.”

DeMaryius Thomas Selected Over Dez Bryant

The Broncos also selected wide receiver DeMaryius Thomas of Georgia Tech with their 22nd pick.

The Broncos needed a big wide receiver after trading two-time Pro Bowler Marshall to the Miami Dolphins, and at 6-foot-3 and 224 pounds, Thomas certainly fits the bill.

McDaniels, who made four trades in his first NFL draft last year, made two deals before selecting Thomas over Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant, considered by many the most dynamic receiver in the draft. Bryant went to Dallas two picks later.

Thomas broke a foot a week before the NFL combine and his background is in the run-first option offense. But with sub-4.4 times in the 40 before his injury, Thomas had too much size and speed for the Broncos to ignore.

McDaniels had the No. 11 pick to start the night but traded it to San Francisco for the Niners' 13th overall selection, which he sent to Philadelphia to move down to No. 22. He wasn't done, packing a trio of picks to move back into the first round and take Tebow.

All this wheeling and dealing left the Broncos with six more picks in rounds 2-7.