Denver Broncos: John Elway's top 12 free agent signings

Denver Broncos: John Elway’s top 12 free agent signings

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 08: Peyton Manning holds the Lombardi Trophy to celebrate the Denver Broncos in win Super Bowl 50 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High before taking on the Carolina Panthers on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

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4. Emmanuel Sanders, WR

Contract: Three years, $18 million

The Broncos’ 2014 free agent spending spree appeared to be over at the time they had signed Emmanuel Sanders to a three-year contract, the same offseason they lost Eric Decker to the New York Jets.

Fans were wondering how the team would keep their passing offense up to elite standards with a rookie taking Decker’s place, but the Broncos signed Sanders and sniped him away from the Kansas City Chiefs instead.

Sanders signed a three-year deal that would later be re-negotiated and turned into a big extension as he became one of the top playmakers at wide receiver in the entire league.

In four seasons with the Broncos, Sanders has caught 303 passes for 4,126 yards and 22 touchdowns.

He had a streak of three straight seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving and injuries limited him to just 12 games in 2017.

Sanders enters his fifth year with the Broncos as one of the team’s biggest steals ever in free agency.

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