Breaking Down Denver Broncos' Recent NFL Draft Successes

Every team in the NFL has misses every year involving its draft class. For a myriad of reasons, certain players just will never pan out in the league. I've always been a fan of optimism, however, and I like to see the glass half-full and the doughnut hole as an opportunity for the munchkin.

That being said, it's best that I remain true to my morals and discuss some of the Denver Broncos' draft successes over the past few seasons. 

Arguably, you can make the case that this current Broncos era, one that has seen four straight AFC West titles and a Super Bowl visit, began in 2010 when former head coach Josh McDaniels and former general manager Brian Xanders drafted star Georgia Tech wideout Demaryius Thomas. No one doubted Thomas' potential at the time, yet in a draft class that was dominated by defensive talent, Denver made a bold move to draft someone who they thought could become the team's offensive superstar.

Although the McDaniels era in Denver ended in a sloppy mess that resulted in his firing before the end of the season and the departure of quarterback Jay Cutler, his foresight on Thomas was huge for the Broncos. 

In 2011, Xanders' last season as the team's general manager, Denver made multiple draft picks that would wind up being integral to their recent playoff success. With the first pick, the team drafted superstar outside linebacker Von Miller and then brought in offensive tackle Orlando Franklin in Round 2 and virtually unknown tight end Julius Thomas in the Round 4. 

While Denver did wind up winning the AFC West in 2011, John Fox's first season as the team's head coach, it did so with an unconventional offense that relied far too heavily on controlling the football and the defense being stingy. The quarterback carousel of Tim Tebow and Kyle Orton was sufficient to scrap out regular-season victories, yet it clearly was not a formula for playoff success. 

Chris Schneider/Associated Press

With Denver sniffing success yet still a couple of solid pieces away, the team appointed former star quarterback John Elway as general manager, and he and Fox quickly worked to bring in quarterback Peyton Manning. With the most important piece of the puzzle in place, the team worked that year to draft pieces around Manning.

The biggest win of this draft class was certainly linebacker Danny Trevathan. The Broncos drafted the former Kentucky Wildcat in the sixth round, and the selection is truly a testament to the foresight of Elway and some of Denver's scouts. Although he was a nonfactor in 2012, Trevathan became the defense's most consistent player in 2013. His 129 tackles that season helped propel the Broncos to the Super Bowl. 

The 2013 NFL draft class was easily the weakest of the past few seasons, yet Denver worked in this offseason to acquire veteran free-agent talent from around the league. Signings such as wide receiver Wes Welker and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie helped complete Denver's roster and turned it into a team with an understated defense and one of the most potent offenses in NFL history. 

Although this past season was a disappointment compared to the expectations of many Denver fans, they have to be happy with the first three picks of this most recent draft. Cornerback Bradley Roby played tremendously this season, often playing in nickel formations and covering shifty slot receivers. Wide receiver Cody Latimer and offensive tackle Michael Schofield, the second- and third-round picks, respectively, are both hopeful prospects who could emerge as major threats next season. 

After this season's playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Fox and the team quickly parted ways, as did defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and offensive coordinator Adam Gase. With a new coaching staff in place, led by head coach Gary Kubiak, the Broncos are undoubtedly entering a new era. 

Whether or not Manning returns is a huge question that both he and the team have remained very tight-lipped about. There are valid reasons to assume he'll return and formidable arguments to make as to why he'll retire. The good news for Denver is, however, it's in decent shape either way. While many teams live and die by their quarterback, Denver, thanks to smart drafting over the past few seasons, has ensured it can succeed as long as the man under center is halfway competent. 

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

There's no denying that Manning was not playing his sharpest football this season, and despite him playing through age and injury, the team still won the division and earned a first-round bye. This is a hopeful sign and a testament to the team's well-roundedness.

Kudos to Xanders and Elway; if the Peyton Manning era in Denver ends this year, it does not mean that the team's next era will start out on a weak foot. 

Joe Rapolla Jr. writes about the Broncos and has a Twitter, which he uses infrequently.