The Broncos' best free-agent classes since the start of modern free agency

Key signings: OL Brian Habib (pictured, left), RB Rod Bernstine (pictured, right), P Tom Rouen, LB David Wyman

The Broncos' big offseason signing was Don Maggs, whom Denver expected to be start at left tackle, but due to an injury to Maggs, the Broncos sought out a trade for Hall of Fame tackle Gary Zimmerman before the season. Also, the team found Habib and Rouen, who played in Denver for years to come. Wyman and Bernstine contributed successful seasons as well.

Key signings: CB Ray Crockett (left), Harald Hasselbach (right)

After five years in Detroit, Crockett came to Denver and quickly became a foundational piece of the team's secondary. Hasselbach also emerged as a starter in his first two seasons in Denver, and he'd continue to be a key piece of the defensive line rotation through the team's first two Super Bowl victories, as would Crockett.

Key signings: G Mark Schlereth (pictured, left), DL Michael Dean Perry, DL Maa Tanuvasa, CB Tyrone Braxton (pictured, center), WR Ed McCaffrey (pictured, right), FB Aaron Craver, DL Mike Lodish

In one of their most productive free agent classes since modern free agency rules began in 1993, the Broncos landed several important players. The most significant of these — Schlereth, McCaffrey and Braxton — would be valuable pieces of the back-to-back Super Bowl teams. But the other players they signed — even if they didn't linger for the Super Bowl squads — were good players, too. Perry was a five-time Pro Bowler when he arrived in Denver and made one more with the Broncos. Craver helped pave the way for Terrell Davis to start his career with two straight 1,000-yard seasons.

Key signings: DE Alfred Williams (pictured, left), LB Bill Romanowski (pictured, right), OL David Diaz-Infante

Denver bolstered its defense ahead of the 1996 season by signing two major contributors to help their front seven. Williams had 13.5 sacks in his first year with the Broncos and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. Romanowski would become a two-time Pro Bowler for Denver. Diaz-Infante wouldn't have that kind of impact, but he too was important for the Super Bowl teams and helped the offensive line.

Key signings: DE Neil Smith (pictured, left) DB Darrien Gordon (pictured, center), FB Howard Griffith (pictured, right), DL Keith Traylor, RB Derek Loville, QB Bubby Brister

In the offseason before the franchise's first championship, the Broncos filled in the gaps on their roster with Pro Bowl and starter talent on the defensive line with Smith and Traylor, a stud punt return specialist in Gordon and a bigger lead blocker in Griffith. They also found able backups for their backfield in Loville and Brister, who would be pressed into action to start four games in place of an injured JOHN ELWAY.

Key signings: TE Shannon Sharpe (pictured, left), RB Reuben Droughns (pictured, center), T Ephraim Salaam (pictured, right)

The biggest name to sign with the Broncos was their prodigal son, Shannon Sharpe, who spent the first 10 years of his career in Denver before joining the Ravens for two seasons. In 2002, Sharpe returned to Denver to end his career where it began. In addition, the Broncos signed a running back named Reuben Droughns, a former third-round draft choice by the Lions. His first two years were largely unheralded, but he broke through in his third with a 1,240-yard season for Denver. Salaam also was a two-year starter at left tackle for the Broncos.

Key signings: QB Jake Plummer (pictured left), CB Nick Ferguson (pictured right)

After searching for John Elway's replacement for some time, the Broncos found a capable starter in Jake Plummer. He would help lead Denver to an appearance in the 2005 AFC Championship Game. Ferguson helped provide stability in the secondary with 44 starts over five seasons.

Key signings: RB Travis Henry (pictured left), TE Daniel Graham (pictured center), WR Brandon Stokley (pictured right)

Graham would be the biggest contributor of the bunch, as he went on to spend four seasons in Denver and starting almost every possible game. Henry spent just one season in Denver, but he was a solid option with nearly 700 yards on the ground. Stokley, then beginning his first stint in Denver, tallied nearly 1,500 yards in his first three years with the Broncos.

Key signings: S Brian Dawkins (pictured left), WR Brandon Lloyd (pictured center), DB Renaldo Hill (pictured right), RB Correll Buckhalter

No player was a bigger addition to the Broncos in 2009 in free agency than Dawkins, a future Hall of Famer, who provided hard hits and leadership. Lloyd would provide a similar spark on offense, though it would take a season to reach that. In 2010, Lloyd recorded 1,448 receiving yards in the only Pro Bowl season of his career. Hill was a quality contributor in the defensive backfield, and Buckhalter was a solid reserve for the offensive backfield as a backup running back.

Key signings: RB Willis McGahee (left), OL Manny Ramirez (right)

McGahee joined the Broncos as his explosive stint with the Ravens wound down. After the 2011 lockout, he ran for nearly 1,200 yards as the Broncos went on a magical run with their great rushing attack, dominant defense and the elusive Tim Tebow. Ramirez, signed just after the 2010 season, spent the 2011 season largely on the sideline, but he became a starter on the offensive line from 2012-14.

Key signings: QB Peyton Manning (far left), WRs Andre Caldwell (center left) and Brandon Stokley (center right), TEs Jacob Tamme (far right) and Joel Dreessen, S Mike Adams

Of course, we already know how monumental Manning's decision to sign in Denver was. But the rest of the group was important, too. Stokley, Tamme and Dreessen were valuable additions for the first years with Manning leading the offense, and Caldwell would stick around as a nice receiving threat through the 2015 season. Adams was also a solid piece for the defensive backfield.

Key signings: OL Louis Vasquez (far left), WR Wes Welker (center left), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (center right), DL Terrance Knighton (right), LB Shaun Phillips

As the Broncos geared up for a historic offense, they added important signings in Louis Vasquez and Wes Welker, who was an invaluable slot receiver. Defensively, Rodgers-Cromartie, Knighton and Phillips were starters. Phillips contributed 10 sacks, Knighton was a roadblock in the center of the defensive line and Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted three passes on the year.

Key signings: WR Emmanuel Sanders (left), CB Aqib Talib (center left), OLB DeMarcus Ware (center right), S T.J. Ward (right)

In former Broncos GM John Elway's most star-studded free-agent class, he brought in four stars who would all earn Pro Bowl honors in Denver. Sanders was a perfect addition opposite Demaryius Thomas as a speedy threat for Peyton Manning. Talib combined with Chris Harris Jr. to form one of the most dominant cornerback tandems, while Ware made an incredible duo with Von Miller as bookend pass rushers. And Ward was an all-purpose safety who could cover and play a big role in the box on defense. Without them, the Super Bowl 50 victory a year later would have been impossible.

Key signings: S Darian Stewart (left), TE Owen Daniels (right), T Ryan Harris, DE Vance Walker, DE Antonio Smith, G Evan Mathis

In the first wave of free agency, the Broncos landed two underrated players to join their star-studded offense and defense. Daniels provided another big receiving threat with soft hands, and he was key in the AFC Championship Game, when he caught two touchdowns. Stewart was perfect to fill an opening at safety as a heavy hitter in the "No-Fly Zone." In addition, Harris, Walker and Smith provided depth on the offensive and defensive lines. Later that summer, the team signed Mathis, who was a Pro Bowler, to solidify the offensive line just before the season started.