HONOLULU — In Broncos Country, there are two constants: 1) Orange sunsets. 2) An unrelenting, visceral dislike for former coach Josh McDaniels.

He’s called Coach McHoodie, not to mention other disrespectful words far too unfit for print.

But, as young Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and promising Denver guard Zane Beadles trotted on the field Sunday for the Pro Bowl, an honest man would also have to call McDaniels something else:

McD is a major reason why veteran quarterback Peyton Manning and the Broncos have a legitimate shot at winning a Super Bowl during the next three years.

Maybe that explains why, on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I discovered at least one man who doesn’t abhor McDaniels.

“I like him,” Thomas said of McDaniels. “He gave me a chance in the NFL. He took me in the first round. And, if he didn’t, I might not be where I am today, at the Pro Bowl.”

No disrespect to Mike Shanahan or John Elway, the past and present architects of Broncos football, but for my money, the best Denver draft class of the past decade was put together in 2010 by McDaniels.

That’s the year the team landed four quality NFL starters: Eric Decker, J.D. Walton, Beadles and Thomas. Oh, yeah. There was one other guy from that 2010 draft class you might have heard about: Tim Tebow.

Whether this was the top collection of rookie talent Denver has assembled in the past 10 years is, of course, open to debate. Elway loyalists might prefer his 2011 selections of linebacker Von Miller, safety Rahim Moore and offensive tackle Orlando Franklin. Shanahan did make an impressive haul of talent in 2006, when he grabbed quarterback Jay Cutler, receiver Brandon Marshall and pass rusher Elvis Dumervil.

There’s really no argument: Great teams built to last in the NFL are built in the draft. McDaniels never figured out how to treat players like adults. He forced a proud organization to take an unnecessary hit to its reputation with a video scandal that hastened his departure. If nothing else, the Broncos are far more stable and professional with John Fox as coach.

Among the aspects of this Denver team that the front office likes best, however, is the healthy mix of veteran leadership and youthful athleticism. The savvy insight of future Hall of Famers Champ Bailey and Manning is balanced by the physical impact of Thomas and Beadles.

“I think we definitely take pride in our draft class,” Beadles said. “What we’ve been through just in our three years in the league is more than a lot of players have experienced. There was a change of coaching staff, two changes at quarterback and going from a 4-12 season to a 13-3 record this year. I think all that has made us pretty close as a draft class. We’re all getting better as players. And I hope we all can be in the NFL for a long while.”

Is it crazy to believe that how rapidly Denver matures as a championship contender depends as much or more on the continued growth of players such as Beadles and Decker rather than the solid work of 30-somethings such as Manning and Bailey?

The name of McDaniels will forever be mud in Broncos Country.

“But he did a good job with that draft,” Thomas said.

And the Class of 2010 is not finished making a name for itself.

“I always thought I could be one of the best receivers in the game,” Thomas said. “But I think Decker can make the Pro Bowl too. We’ll get him here. We’ll come to the game together.”

Broncomaniacs might never forgive McDaniels.

But here are two words maybe you never imagined anybody in Denver would ever say to McDaniels:

Thank you.

Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053, mkiszla@denverpost.com or twitter.com/markkiszla