The depth of the 2013 Broncos is analogous to the depth of the 1997 Broncos.

Deep depth. Nautilus-and-Nemo depth.

So believes main man John Elway, who should know best.

“I think it’s comparable. We have a good mix of veterans and young players. We will have,” he said assertively, “53 guys on the final roster who can play.”

I had asked John to contrast the overall deepness of this team to that team.

But, and it’s a big but, the 1997 Broncos won the franchise’s first Super Bowl and the 2013 Broncos “look pretty on paper, but we haven’t won anything,” said Elway, who was the quarterback then and is the executive vice president of football operations now.

“I got my first Super Bowl win when I was surrounded by a lot of talent, and we’re trying to do the same thing for Peyton (Manning),” Elway said. “This team has a lot of talented players.”

And Elway is completely about championships. Anything short of a Super Bowl this season, and he won’t be any more satisfied than he was last season.

The 1997 Broncos had three players — Elway, Gary Zimmerman and Shannon Sharpe — beckoned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At least four others — Terrell Davis, Rod Smith, Tom Nalen and Steve Atwater — belong in Canton. The 2013 Broncos have two certain Hall of Famers — Manning and Champ Bailey. Any more? Ryan Clady and Wes Welker have a chance. Perhaps Von Miller, if he becomes a responsible adult someday. Demaryius Thomas might be, if he puts up large numbers for a dozen-plus years. Brock Osweiler? Nobody can predict.

Players from title teams have quite an edge to the Hall of Fame committee. How can 2013 be compared to 1997?

Seven players, tops, from 2013 may have been starters on offense and defense in 1997.

Elway and Manning? Equally sensational.

The combo of Smith and Ed McCaffrey (as Elway pointed out, “it wasn’t a 12-man offense” because only two receivers were on the field) was superior to Thomas and Eric Decker.

The starters on both sides 16 seasons ago wore big-boy football pants. Clady wouldn’t have started over Zimmerman (although he would have moved to right tackle and started), and none of the current tight ends, “we have four very good players at the position,” Elway said — would have beaten out Sharpe. Bailey, of course, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are better cornerbacks than Ray Crockett and Darrien Gordon. Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball above T.D., the Super Bowl MVP? No way. I’ll give you Louis Vasquez over Brian Habib, Miller over John Mobley, anybody on this defensive line over Michael Dean Perry and Trindon Holliday over the return men. (The kickers and punters would be judged even.) Middle linebacker is a wash because I’m not convinced Nate Irving or Stewart Bradley can be special. Allen Aldridge wasn’t.

I asked McCaffrey, now the analyst on the Broncos’ radio network, to evaluate the depth of the 1997 and 2013 teams. He danced for a while, then finally said: “The Super Bowl teams were stronger because we had good or great experienced veterans starting at almost every position.”

It’s my contention that the 2013 Broncos have higher-quality second- and third-team players than the 1997 reserve units.

“You look at our depth on the offensive line, at wide receiver, running back, in the defensive line, at linebacker, especially the defensive backs, and we can run a lot of very good players in and out during the game,” Elway said. “It’s not the 22-man game it used to be.”

For instance, the Broncos have 12 contributing NFL players in the secondary. The coaching staff will be forced to cut a couple of backs who will end up playing this year somewhere else. There are 11 defensive linemen who can game, and three won’t make this team.

Consider that since Elway took command, the Broncos have drafted 23 players; only one is gone, and 20 picks (plus four college free agents) will make this season’s 53-man team or the practice squad. Ten or more will be starters or play half the plays.

This is the strongest bunch of reserves in Broncos history.

The 2013 Broncos could be the organization’s second-, third- or very best team in 54 seasons.

Yet, if they don’t, at least, get to the Super Bowl, the Broncos’ depth will descend to despair, discontent and disillusionment … again.

Woody Paige: 303-954-1095, wpaige@denverpost.com or twitter.com/woodypaige