Broncos All-Time free agency defensive team

The Denver Broncos have had some great defensive players throughout the years and many of them have come over via free agency.

While defensive legends Von Miller and Randy Gradishar were drafted by the team and others such as Champ Bailey were acquired through a trade, many of the team's best defensive players over the years were found in free agency.

Earlier, I put together the all-time offensive free agency team for the Broncos and now it's time to look at the defensive side of the ball. Who are some of the best defensive free agents ever signed by the team?

Every player signed by the Broncos since the current form of free agency began in 1993 was taken into consideration here and each position on the defense will be represented.

Broncos All-Time defensive free agency team: Safeties

T.J. Ward

T.J. Ward was part of the Broncos' terrific free agency class in 2014 that helped bring the team a Super Bowl the following year. Ward had a lot to do with that.

It was difficult to leave Brian Dawkins off this list and while Dawkins was a far better player than Ward was overall, Ward had a more impactful career in Denver.

He was part of a historically good defense in 2015 and he had a huge game in Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers. He had an interception and a crucial fumble recovery in that game.

Ward made the Pro Bowl in 2014 and had three solid years with the Broncos before leaving in 2017.

John Lynch

After 11 highly successful seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which included a Super Bowl victory and five trips to the Pro Bowl, John Lynch signed with the Broncos ahead of the 2004 season.

It was a massive move for the Broncos to add Lynch to a secondary that also included Champ Bailey.

Lynch was huge for the Broncos, registering 271 tackles in four seasons to go along with three interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his seasons with the team.

What Lynch brought most was an enforcer mentality in the middle of the field. He helped give the defense a different identity. This hit on Dallas Clark of the Indianapolis Colts was how Lynch used to play the game.

Lynch would end up being inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame.