With Shanahan, Manning enshrined, who’s next for Broncos Ring of Fame?

Mike Shanahan and Peyton Manning are now immortalized in the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, complete with snappy new orange jackets.

Von Miller is now a member of the Los Angeles Rams, but he’s a lock to join Shanahan and Manning up on the façade of Empower Field at Mile High once his career is over.

So, it begs the question, who should be the next person to join the Broncos Ring of Fame?

Here are some candidates:

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Ed McCaffrey

“Eddie Mac” owns the dubious distinction of, “He’s not already in the Broncos Ring of Fame?” A key starter on Denver’s Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII teams, and among the most popular players in franchise history, his absence from the Ring of Fame remains a great mystery.

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Mark Schlereth

Here’s a fun fact that will make “Stink’s” blood boil: The Broncos have more kickers (three counting Gene Mingo) than offensive linemen (two) in the Ring of Fame. That notwithstanding, Schlereth’s Pro Bowl play on the dominant running offense of its era, along with leadership to multiple Super Bowl teams, merits serious consideration.

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John Mobley

The man best known for knocking down Brett Favre’s pass to secure the Broncos first world title might’ve been the most underrated player on those championship teams, earning All-Pro honors and leading the defense in tackles by a country mile.

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Bill Romanowski

While his off-field history likely precludes him from enshrinement, “Romo’s” impact as an enforcer and multiple-time Pro Bowler on the Broncos championship defenses remains memorable.

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Trevor Pryce

Pryce is arguably the best pure defensive lineman in the history of the franchise, with only linebackers Von Miller, Simon Fletcher and Karl Mecklenburg ahead of him on the Broncos all-time sack list.

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Al Wilson

Wilson was a multiple-time Pro Bowler who was the heart of the Broncos defense during the 2000s, when the team was perennially in the playoffs and earned an AFC Championship game appearance.

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Jake Plummer

Arguably the third best quarterback in franchise history, the Broncos struggles to find a quarterback the past few seasons help illustrate just how valuable Plummer was in leading the team to the playoffs year-after-year.

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John Fox

With a .719 winning percentage, “Foxy” is the winningest coach in team history. His teams won the AFC West every year he was in charge, including in 2011, when he modified his team midseason to fit Tim Tebow’s skillset. Add in an AFC Championship on a record-setting 2013 team, and Fox has a strong argument to join Shanahan, Dan Reeves and Red Miller in the Ring of Fame.

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Ryan Clady

Clady was a multiple time All-Pro left tackle who played at an elite level from the day he walked onto the Broncos practice field as a rookie. If not for injuries, he very well may have been a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Elvis Dumervil

The three-time Pro Bowler was as good rushing the passer as any in team history, with 63.5 sacks in 91 games. Only a faulty fax machine could hold “Doom” back from being neck-and-neck with Miller for the franchise’s all-time sack record.

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Demaryius Thomas

The easiest slam-dunk on this list, Joe Ellis already announced “D.T.” will be enshrined back when he was traded to Houston a few years ago. Thomas joins Rod Smith and Shannon Sharpe in the top three of all major franchise receiving categories and has a Super Bowl 50 ring to boot.

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Gary Kubiak

It’s hard to think of someone who positively impacted the Broncos in more ways than “Kubes.” He was drafted by the team, John Elway’s backup for years, offensive coordinator on the Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII teams and, of course, head coach of the Super Bowl 50 squad. He even spent time working with Elway in personnel after leaving the sideline.

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Chris Harris Jr.

The versatile defensive back only managed to garner All-Pro honors, serve as a charter member of the “No Fly Zone” and become a Super Bowl 50 champion. Harris should be an easy selection following his retirement.

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Aqib Talib

Like Harris, an All-Pro who fortified the “No Fly Zone,” Talib is the franchise’s all-time leader in pick-sixs. An integral member of the Super Bowl 50 team, making clutch plays weekly, his swagger helped define a historic defense in league history.

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DeMarcus Ware

The future Pro Football Hall of Famer only spent three seasons with the Broncos, but they were incredibly impactful, as his leadership and Pro Bowl play led to a championship in Super Bowl 50 and helped Von Miller take his career to new heights.