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Denver Broncos: Ranking the team’s 5 best free-agent signings since 2010

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 8: T.J. Ward #43 and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after a play against the Carolina Panthers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 8: T.J. Ward #43 and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after a play against the Carolina Panthers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 5: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos passes the ball during the third quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 5, 2013, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

1. Peyton Manning, 2012

This was a pretty easy decision, as it’s not only the best free-agent signing in team history but one of the best in league history.

After 14 incredible years with the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning was released by the team that drafted him, opening up the chance for one of the best players to ever play the game to sign wherever he wanted.

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Several teams were interested, but there was some skepticism as Manning was coming off serious neck surgery. The Broncos were the team that ended up landing the legend, and it paid off in spades.

Manning took the Broncos to the playoffs in each of his four seasons in Denver. The 2013 season was record-breaking on many levels as Manning threw for 5,477 yards and 55 touchdowns, both single-season NFL records. He took the team to the Super Bowl that season and though the Broncos lost that one, they got the job done two years later in what would prove to be The Sheriff’s last game.

Manning was a major get for the Broncos and his signing in 2012 is the main reason the team was able to sign all of the other players in the top five here. Those players wanted to play for a team that had a chance to win it all and, in large part thanks to Manning, they got it.

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