Through the Years
#TBT: The Broncos' top free-agent signings
Since free agency started in 1993 in the NFL, the Broncos have had their fair share of big hits. Here are just some of the biggest ones — those who made a Pro Bowl with the Broncos, and one very special signing who helped bring the Broncos to their first Super Bowl victory. Note: These are not arranged in any kind of rankings. They are sorted in alphabetical order.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer capped an illustrious career with three seasons in Denver from 2009-11. Dawkins was a Pro Bowler in 2009 and 11 before calling it quits.
Michael Dean Perry signed with the Broncos after seven years in Cleveland, and proceeded to earn the sixth Pro Bowl selection of his career.
Howard Griffith made no Pro Bowls and was not an All-Pro, but we could not leave him out of this list. The fullback was a key part of the Broncos' Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII teams. He could pick up short yards when needed, and even more often, he could crush defenders to make room for Terrell Davis carrying the ball behind him.
In 2010, Brandon Lloyd had the best year of his career after signing with the Broncos ahead of the 2009 season. Lloyd caught 77 passes for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns in his second season in Denver.
John Lynch, who signed with the Broncos after 11 years in Tampa Bay, didn't miss the Pro Bowl in a single season in Denver. Enough said.
What needs to be said about Peyton Manning's impact on the Broncos? He rewrote franchise and league record books in 2013, led the team to two Super Bowl appearances and helped them win Super Bowl 50. During his tenure in Denver, the Broncos won four division titles in four years and never finished worse than 12-4. Photo by Ben Hays.
After winning a Super Bowl as part of the 1994 San Francisco 49ers, Ed McCaffrey signed with the Broncos to rejoin his offensive coordinator who had gotten the job as Denver's new head coach. Alongside Mike Shanahan, McCaffrey helped turn the Broncos offense into a powerhouse. A one-time Pro Bowler, McCaffrey played in Denver for nine years and recorded 6,200 yards and 46 touchdowns on 462 catches.
Willis McGahee's time in Denver was short, but he made it count. In his first season, he ran for 1,199 yards and four touchdowns, and he earned a Pro Bowl selection.
Wide receiver Anthony Miller recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons after signing with the Broncos in 1994. His 1995 season earned him a Pro Bowl nod. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Five seasons after the retirement of John Elway, the Broncos finally found a quarterback who could reliably lead them after they signed Jake Plummer in free agency. With him under center, the Broncos went 39-15 and Plummer, a 2005 Pro Bowl selection, threw for 71 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.
Linebacker Bill Romanowski provided a vicious presence over the middle for the Broncos' defense of the late 2000s. During his six years in Denver, Romanowski earned two Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls.
In coming to Denver in 2014, Emmanuel Sanders helped shape the Broncos' receiving corps for the next five and a half years. With Demaryius Thomas on one side and Sanders on the other, Peyton Manning had all the receiving talent he needed. Sanders' speed and sure hands helped lead the Broncos to Super Bowl 50, and he was a two-time Pro Bowler. Photo by Gabriel Christus
After six years in Washington, Mark Schlereth arrived in Denver with little to prove. He had already been a Pro Bowler and already won a Super Bowl. But with the Broncos, he showed how he could be even better. Schlereth was a key part of a strong offensive line that could protect John Elway just as well as it could make holes for Terrell Davis. By the time he retired, Schlereth added another Pro Bowl and earned two more Super Bowl rings.
Neil Smith had been a loyal and productive Chief during nine years in Kansas City — a five-time Pro Bowler and a one-time All-Pro. But in free agency, Smith found his way to the Chiefs' hated division rival, the Broncos, and he made them pay. With his help, the Broncos beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead in the 1997 playoffs en route to Super Bowl XXXII glory and then he won a second title the following year.
When Darian Stewart was signed before the 2015 season, it wasn't a splashy move. But the quiet safety made plenty of noise once the season started, beginning with a game-saving interception against the Ravens. From there, Stewart helped provide the big hits and sure tackling to send the Broncos to Super Bowl 50. (Photo:© Eric Lars Bakke/ Denver Broncos)
As part of a dynamic free-agent class that turned the Broncos defense into one of the best of its era, Aqib Talib provided shutdown coverage with the hands to make him a dangerous corner on every throw. He earned four Pro Bowls, one All-Pro nod and helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50. Photo by Ben Hays.
Another piece of the 2014 free-agent class, T.J. Ward was yet another firecracker for the Broncos' defense. He picked off three passes, forced five turnovers and had five sacks in three seasons. And in Super Bowl 50, he recorded seven tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery. Photo by Ben Hays.
Of all the players the Broncos signed before the 2014 season, no one was bigger than DeMarcus Ware. The outside linebacker returned to form after injuries nagged him toward the end of his time in Dallas. But in Denver, Ware was a steady force alongside Von Miller, whom Ware helped mentor. In his three seasons in Denver, Ware was a two-time Pro Bowler and was an instrumental piece of the Super Bowl 50 team. Photo by Gabriel Christus
After signing with the Broncos in 2008, Casey Wiegmann earned the first and only Pro Bowl selection of his career. He played one more season in Denver before returning to Kansas City, where he spent nine years of his career.
In his first year in Denver in 1996, Williams was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl defensive end, racking up 13 sacks and forcing three fumbles. In the two seasons that followed, he helped the Broncos win two Super Bowls.
A 2013 Pro Bowler and All-Pro, Louis Vasquez made sure Peyton Manning's jersey stayed clean and paved the way for C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman en route to helping the Broncos win Super Bowl 50. (Photo by: Gabriel Christus)
