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Broncos' All-Could-Have-Been team led by quarterback Russell Wilson

Denver's roster would have looked very different today had they gone after some of these players.

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

All NFL teams make mistakes.

The Broncos are no exception when it comes to coulda-shoulda-woulda moments.

Over the past few years, the team has missed out on some big players. Some of the biggest names are highlighted below:

QB: Russell Wilson

Denver selected quarterback Brock Osweiler 57th overall in 2012. One round later, the Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson 75th overall.

RB1: Eddie Lacy

Three selections after the Broncos selected running back Montee Ball 58th overall in 2013, the Packers selected Eddie Lacy.

RB2: LeSean McCoy

In the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected safety Darcel McBath 48th overall. Five picks later, the Eagles landed LeSean McCoy.

RB3: Arian Foster

Arian Foster went undrafted in 2009. The Texans later signed him as an UDFA.

TE: Rob Gronkowski

Denver selected Tim Tebow 25th overall in 2010. Seventeen selections later, the Patriots landed Rob Gronkowski.

WR1: Emmanuel Sanders

Two selections after the Broncos selected center J.D. Walton 80th overall in 2010, Pittsburg drafted receiver Emmanuel Sanders. It worked out for Denver in the end when Sanders signed with the team in 2014 as a free agent.

WR2: T.Y. Hilton

The Colts selected receiver T.Y. Hilton 26 selections after the Broncos drafted running back Ronnie Hillman 67th overall in 2012.

DE: Elvis Dumervil

In 2013, FaxGate prevented the Broncos from re-signing pass-rusher Elvis Dumervil.

OLB: Clay Matthews

In the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected defensive end Robert Ayers 18th overall. Eight selections later, the Packers selected Clay Matthews.

ILB: Bobby Wagner

Eleven picks after the Broncos selected defensive end Derek Wolfe 36th overall in 2012, the Seahawks drafted linebacker Bobby Wagner.

CB: Richard Sherman

The Broncos selected tight end Julius Thomas 129th overall in 2011. The Seahawks selected cornerback Richard Sherman 154th overall.

S1: Earl Thomas

During the 2009 NFL Draft, the Broncos traded up in the second round with Seattle to select cornerback Alphonso Smith. The Seahawks used the first round pick acquired from Denver to select Earl Thomas a year later.

S2: Glover Quin

Denver selected tight end Richard Quinn 64th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Texans later selected safety Glover Quin 112th overall.

LS: Mike Leach

Denver cut Mike Leach in 2009. The Cardinals then signed him, and he has remained their starter to this day.

P: Brett Kern

The Broncos also cut Brett Kern in 2009. He went on to sign with the Titans and has started there since. He averaged 46.8 yards per punt last season (4th-best in the NFL).

K: Steven Hauschka

The Broncos cut Steven Hauschka in 2011, and he was claimed off waivers by the Seahawks. He has started in two Super Bowls since then and converted 83.8 percent of his field goals in 2014 a year after converting 94.3 percent during Seattle's SB run.

As noted earlier, all teams miss on players. But the 16 players above could have been major contributors in Denver.

Horse Tracks:

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