Here’s a look at the Super Bowl prospects of the Denver Broncos, who finished the season 9-7:

Broncos' Super Bowl barometer: They should contend, but there are question marks.

Assessing the foundation: Start with John Elway, the Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations and general manager. His expectation meter is set at "we want to compete for world championships; that's the standard." When Vance Joseph was introduced as the head coach, replacing Gary Kubiak, Elway said the Broncos should be back in the Super Bowl conversation next season and pointed out the team had won the title less than a year earlier.

The Broncos have a fairly young roster, have managed the cap well -- they could have around $40 million worth of room when free agency opens -- and know without a doubt their current core can win a championship because they did it last February. In the big picture, they've had six consecutive winning seasons. Despite this season's playoff miss, the Broncos finished 9-7 -- and were 7-3 at one point.

Because of the potential to have as many as four compensatory draft picks, including perhaps two third-rounders, the Broncos could also have a 10-player draft class. Nine rookies -- eight draft picks and one undrafted player -- made the roster out of training camp this past season. Anything close to a repeat and the Broncos suddenly have restocked the depth chart in a two-draft cycle.

Overall, Elway believes in the draft and supports the scouting staff. When they see the opportunity, the Broncos will dive into free agency to make the big splashes. Put it all together with a defense that includes three first-team All-Pro picks in cornerback Chris Harris Jr., cornerback Aqib Talib and linebacker Von Miller, and the Broncos are indeed in position to get back in the mix if they repair the offensive line.

The Broncos surrendered 40 sacks in 2016. Fixing the issues with their offensive line is of the utmost importance so they can properly evaluate their quarterbacks. AP Photo/James Kenney

Judging the quarterback: At the heart of the questions on offense are the players tasked with protecting the quarterback. The Broncos overhauled the offensive line in 2015, but the group never quite played the way the team hoped. The line did rally down the stretch and probably saved its best game for Super Bowl 50 win over the Carolina Panthers.

The Broncos revamped the line again in 2016, only to see the group struggle mightily. The Broncos finished 27th in rushing and surrendered 40 sacks -- ninth most in the league.

Before the Broncos can judge Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch at quarterback, they must give them a line that allows concentration on coverage rather than self-preservation.

Siemian, who started 14 games last season, and Lynch, the team's first-round pick in 2015, will battle for the starting job in 2017. Siemian won the job in last year's camp and it wasn't close. If the competition is fair, he will be difficult to unseat. Siemian throws with better anticipation and can handle as much information as the coaches give him.

Lynch has athleticism on his side and that first-round grade, but he has to learn to manage what he sees in front of him because it is far different than his college offense. Opposing defensive coordinators believe they can make Lynch hesitate on throws between the numbers because he's indecisive after his first read.

The Broncos believe both can be starters, and Elway has said -- for the moment -- he has no intention of bringing in a veteran to be the starter. You never say never with the Broncos on such matters, but Siemian just turned 25 and Lynch is set to enter his second offseason program. That means the Broncos are young at the position, have friendly cap numbers on both quarterbacks.

As the season drew to a close, Siemian had the support of his teammates, who often privately said he could have led the Broncos to the playoffs if the offensive line had performed a little better.

Realistic ways the Broncos can improve their chances to contend for a Super Bowl: