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Take a look back at the Broncos' top 10 modern-era free-agent signings, as ranked by an average rating from the digital media office. (AP Images)
The Sheriff notched the top spot with an unanimous No. 1 rating after a four-year stint with the Broncos that featured two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl win, an MVP season, two first-team All-Pro nods and three Pro Bowl selections. The accolades of course can go much further, but the basic thing to know is that Manning's impact transformed the franchise's trajectory before he went out on top after helping land the team's third Super Bowl.
Talib is still in the middle of his time with the Broncos after arriving in 2014 during the team's flurry of free-agency splashes, but his impact has been remarkable, particularly in conjunction with Chris Harris Jr., whose skills complement Talib's in the No Fly Zone. Talib provides numerous benefits: extensive experience and an impressive football I.Q.; great instincts and the ball skills to fully capitalize off them; and the energy that helps fuel the defense's aggressiveness. After three seasons in Denver, Talib is already the franchise leader in pick-sixes. Among his accomplishments in that time are a Super Bowl 50 win, three consecutive Pro Bowls and a selection to the first-team All-Pro squad in 2016.
The veteran safety came to Denver after 11 prolific years in Tampa Bay, but he had plenty more fuel in the tank for the Broncos. Lynch's hard hits and leadership helped drive the Broncos to their first AFC Championship appearance since the one that launched them to Super Bowl XXXIII. He earned four consecutive Pro Bowls nods in his four seasons in Denver and was named to the Ring of Fame in 2016.
After four years working with the Giants and 49ers, the speedy wideout from Stanford joined the Broncos' highpowered offense led by another Cardinal alumnus. Nine years later, McCaffrey would retire with rings from Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII, a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selection, and the fourth-most receiving yards in franchise history. Coupled with Rod Smith and tight end Shannon Sharpe, McCaffrey completed an outstanding group of receivers that helped deliver the Broncos its first championship, and then its second.
Like Talib, DeMarcus Ware was an instrumental free-agent signing that would lay part of the foundation for the path to the Broncos' Super Bowl 50 victory. The 12-year veteran outside linebacker was a key leader of the dominant 2015 defensive unit and was an influential figure in the development of Von Miller. Though injuries bugged him in the past two seasons, Ware came back when it mattered and made his impact felt. While Miller led the way in the 2015 postseason run, Ware's performance went a little under the radar. In that run, he had 12 quarterback hits (double what any other Bronco had, and had the game-changing fumble recovery in the divisional round against Pittsburgh. Ware has notched two Pro Bowl selections in three years.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway saw potential in Sanders, who had shown potential in his four seasons with the Steelers, and signed him to join WR Demaryius Thomas in the high-powered offense led by Peyton Manning. The move paid dividends as Sanders and Thomas have become the seventh WR duo tandem to each record three consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards. With his explosiveness and elusiveness, Sanders has given the Broncos another playmaker that can power the offense, and in turn, he's earned two Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl ring.
The former Colorado Buffalo All-American returned to the Rocky Mountains to reach his career peak. As a free agent, Williams signed with the Broncos in 1996, helping build the defensive foundation of the Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII teams. In his first year, Williams was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection with 13 sacks, and then he followed that season with 8.5 sacks and two postseason sacks.
"Jake the Snake" earns his spot here for helping lead the Broncos back to consistent playoff contention in the mid-2000s with dynamic (if occasionally sometimes risky) quarterback play in Mike Shanahan and Gary Kubiak's balanced offense. In his best two-year span, from 2004 to 2005, Plummer threw for 7,455 yards, 45 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He also earned a Pro Bowl selection and got to an AFC Championship with the 2005 team.
Smith changed AFC-West allegiances in 1997 after nine seasons with the Chiefs, signing a one-year contract with the Broncos. With his help, Denver won their first championship and Smith signed back on for another two seasons. In his three years, he totaled 17 sacks and was selected as a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro. Smith came up huge when it counted, recording three sacks in the 1997 postseason, recovering a fumble in Super Bowl XXXII and returning a fumble 79 yards for a touchdown in the 1998 divisional round.
Schlereth (or "Stink," as he is also known) was a key part of a dominant offensive line that protected John Elway in the pocket and paved the way for Terrell Davis, who would earn league MVP and Super Bowl MVP honors. Stink garnered Pro Bowl honors in 1998 and finished his career as a Bronco with wins in each of his Super Bowl appearances before retiring in 2000.
A three-year member of the Broncos, Vasquez hit the ground running as a free-agent signing in 2013. That year, the Broncos hit league-record marks for offensive production, and Vasquez was picked for the Pro bowl and the All-Pro team. He also played in two Super Bowls, winning one.
The fiery and controversial linebacker was a ferocious mainstay in the middle of the field for Denver from 1996 to 2001. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion in that time, and did not miss a single game in those six seasons.
McGahee arrived in Denver and quickly proved he had more left in the tank for the Broncos. He rushed for 1,199 yards in 14 starts and earned a Pro Bowl selection. Behind him, the Broncos led the league in rushing yards per game.
In 2009, Dawkins signed a five-year contract, joining a talented defense that included Champ Bailey. Dawkins' leadership with Bailey and outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil would form a strong network for a group of young, talented defensive players that included Von Miller, Chris Harris Jr. and others. He was a two-time Pro Bowl safety in 2009 and 2011 and a second-team All-Pro in 2009.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- **Denver offers Ronald Leary an opportunity that Dallas, with its stacked offensive-line complement, could not: a chance to be the clear No. 1 option at one of the guard positions.
Most of his five seasons with the Cowboys were spent trying to prove himself after breaking into the NFL as an undrafted signee from Memphis. Fifteen of the 17 weeks of Leary's rookie season saw him on the Cowboys' practice squad.
By the 2013 season, Leary became the Cowboys' starter at left guard, and remained there through a 2014 season in which Dallas' offensive line emerged as the league's best. But by 2015, Leary had injuries, and the Cowboys had La'el Collins -- a potential first-round pick who fell out of the draft entirely, but then stepped in for an injured Leary and played like the top prospect he was.
By the time Leary returned for 2016, Collins had taken his left guard job. But Collins suffered a left toe injury, pushing Leary back into the lineup -- and the Cowboys' line and ground game did not miss a beat.
According to a report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram last summer, Leary requested a trade prior to the 2016 season. But he stayed, and it ended up being the best move for the team -- and now, the player. Being a key component of an offensive line that is perhaps the best of this decade made the life-changing contract he got from the Broncos possible.
Leary's extensive left guard experience makes him a perfect fit there. But that could necessitate a shift for Max Garcia, who could find himself shifting to right guard. That is a spot at which he worked in spurts during his rookie season as he shuffled between left and right guard in relief of then-first teamers Evan Mathis and Louis Vasquez.
Executive Vice President/General Manager John Elway noted last week that the shift away from a pure zone-blocking system to one that incorporates zone and power techniques should help Garcia.
But that also made Leary a perfect fit, as his ability to drive and attack off the snap instantly gives a jolt of energy to a running game that struggled for most of the 2016 season.
