By Jordan Long
NFL free agency opens up on Wednesday at 2 PM Mountain Time. There have been free agents who have signed with Denver in past years to improve their football team. Some have even helped them win a Super Bowl.
The obvious great signing was quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning agreed to a 5-year, $96 million contract on March 20th,, 2012. When Manning came to Denver, it was unknown what he had left in the tank. Manning missed all of 2011 with a neck injury. The question was could Manning be the top quarterback he once was?
This was a definite yes. Manning was with Denver from 2012 to 2015. In that time, his record as the Broncos’ starter stood at 45-12. Denver won the AFC West Division each year with Manning. He also guided them to two Super Bowls, Super Bowl 48 and 50. Denver, of course, won Super Bowl 50, defeating the Carolina Panthers 24-10.
In a Broncos’ uniform Manning showed he could still throw the football. He passed for 17,112 yards and 140 touchdowns. He didn’t take many chances with the ball and was picked off 53 times. He is the best free agent Denver ever signed.
A defender who was key to the Bronco’s Super Bowl 50 victory also was a free agent, DeMarcus Ware. Ware spent 2005 to 2013 with Dallas. For whatever reason, Dallas cut him following the 2013 season. Denver was quick to pick him up.
On March 12th, 2014 Ware agreed to a 3-year, $30 million contract with the Broncos. Denver knew Ware would help this defense sack the quarterback. In his 3 years with Denver, Ware totaled 21.5 sacks and 81 tackles. Of course, Ware was part of the team that won Super Bowl 50.
In the offseason of 2003, Denver knew they needed to upgrade the quarterback position. Denver thought Jake “The Snake” Plummer was the answer. Plummer played in Arizona where he was 30-52 as a starter. He never had the team around him to be successful.
Denver was the best landing spot for him. In his 4 years with Denver, he became the franchise quarterback for the team. His starting record was 39-15 in the Mile High City. Plummer passed for 11,631 yards, 71 touchdowns, and threw 47 interceptions. He guided the Broncos to the playoffs 3 times, 2003, 2004, and 2005. 2005 was his only playoff victory as Denver beat New England in the AFC Divisional Round 27-16. Plummer was replaced by Jay Cutler in 2006 and Cutler became the starter for Denver in 2007.
One of the Broncos’ top receivers to play for them was Ed McCaffrey, who also came in free agency. McCaffrey was with the New York Giants from 1991 to 1993 and San Francisco in 1994. McCaffrey came to Denver in the offseason of 1995. He was a large target for quarterback John Elway. The offense became so much more dangerous. The Broncos went to 2 Super Bowls with him, Super Bowl 32 and 33, and won both.
In his time with Denver, McCaffrey caught 462 passes which ranks 5th in franchise history. When it came to receiving yards, he totaled 6,200 again 5th in Broncos’ history. McCaffrey hauled in 46 touchdown passes, ranking 4th.
These are a few of the many free agents who picked the Mile High City. Denver will be looking for players to improve their team. Maybe some of them will go down in the history of the Denver Broncos as one of the best signings for the franchise.
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