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Denver Broncos: Ranking top 5 draft classes in team history

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 14: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 and wide receiver Eddie Royal #19 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after defeating the San Diego Chargers 39-38 during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 14, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Cutler connected with Royal for the final touchdown of the game and the ensuing game winning two point conversion in the final minute. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER - SEPTEMBER 14: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 and wide receiver Eddie Royal #19 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after defeating the San Diego Chargers 39-38 during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 14, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. Cutler connected with Royal for the final touchdown of the game and the ensuing game winning two point conversion in the final minute. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Derek Wolfe
Nov 19, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) attempts to rally the crowd in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

4: 2012

The 2012 draft, which was just John Elway’s second as the team’s general manager,  was his best draft. That could eventually change if any of his more recent draft classes become more productive,  but the 2012 group was solid.

Elway knew he had Peyton Manning come in as the team’s new starting quarterback, so that allowed him the kind of leverage he needed to build a team around a great player.

The Broncos traded out of the first round that year and managed to get Derek Wolfe in the second round. Wolfe was a team leader on defense and became a critical member of the team.

In the second round, the team took Brock Osweiler to become Manning’s understudy. Though things didn’t work out with Brock long-term, it was a good plan and if you go back to the 2015 season in which the Broncos won the Super Bowl, you’ll see just how important Osweiler was.

Ronnie Hillman had some good moments in Denver and in the later rounds of that draft, the Broncos scored two big defensive players in Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan. Though both of them signed big free-agent contracts elsewhere during the same offseason, the Broncos needed them both for that Super Bowl push.

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