ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Elway got Peyton Manning a new weapon to help make a push to take control of the AFC.
The Denver Broncos will sign former New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker to a two-year contract, Elway, Denver's executive vice president of football operations, announced Wednesday afternoon.
NFL Network reported the deal is worth $12 million, $2 million more than the Patriots offered.
Welker leaves New England, where he had five 100-catch seasons in the last six years courtesy of Tom Brady, to join Manning in Denver.
MOTOWN MOVES: Bush leads free agent arrivals in Detroit
MORE CHANGES: Shonn Greene now a Titan
"I think it absolutely would be a great signing for the Broncos," former Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley, the man Welker replaces, told USA TODAY Sports. "He's such a great player, and it would weaken your main competition in the AFC."
Welker joins a receiving corps that includes a pair of young stars in Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, who each had more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2013.
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Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones
PHOTOS: USA TODAY Sports' top 50 NFL free agents
50. Shonn Greene, RB. SIGNED: Tennessee Titans, three years, $10M. (Old team: New York Jets)
Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
49. Sam Baker, OT. SIGNED: Atlanta Falcons, six years, $45M. (Old team: Falcons.)
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48. Donald Thomas, G. SIGNED: Indianapolis Colts. (Old team: New England Patriots.)
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47. Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons
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46. Dustin Keller, TE, New York Jets
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45. Brandon Gibson, WR, St. Louis Rams
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44. Martellus Bennett, TE. SIGNED: Chicago Bears. (Old team: New York Giants)
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43. Gosder Cherilus, OT. SIGNED: Indianapolis Colts. (Old team: Detroit Lions)
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42. Glover Quin, S, Houston Texans
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41. Mike DeVito, DE. SIGNED: Kansas City Chiefs, three years, $12.6M (Old team: New York Jets.)
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40. James Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers.
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39. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
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38. Danny Amendola, WR, St. Louis Rams
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37. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants
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36. Dwight Freeney, DE, Indianapolis Colts
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35. Brandon Moore, G, New York Jets
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34. Eric Winston, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
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33. Sean Smith, CB, Miami Dolphins
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32. Osi Umenyiora, DE, New York Giants
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31. Israel Idonije, DE, Chicago Bears
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30. Louis Vasquez, G. SIGNED: Denver Broncos, four years, $23.5M. (Old team: San Diego Chargers)
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29. Phil Dawson, K, Cleveland Browns
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28. Jared Cook, TE. SIGNED: St. Louis Rams, five years, $35M. (Old team: Tennessee Titans.)
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27. Reggie Bush, RB. SIGNED: Detroit Lions, four years, $16.25M. (Old team: Miami Dolphins.)
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26. John Abraham, DE, Atlanta Falcons
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25. Philip Wheeler, OLB. SIGNED: Miami Dolphins, five years, $26M. (Old team: Oakland Raiders.)
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24. Chris Houston, CB. SIGNED: Detroit Lions. (Old team: Lions)
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23. Ed Reed, FS, Baltimore Ravens
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