Peyton Manning is not going to be a Denver Bronco any longer, regardless if he retires or not. Manning will be a free agent in 2017, according to his contract, but will cost the Broncos $21 million in 2016; for that reason alone, Manning will not be a Bronco anymore. John Elway would rather move on with Brock Osweiler and begin to build up this roster once again.
The Broncos may lose Osweiler in free agency if they don't resign him. A handful of teams around the league have been watching Osweiler and his situation with the Broncos to see exactly what may occur, and now with free agency a week away, teams are beginning to plan exactly what they hope to achieve during the offseason.
The Houston Texans have been long associated with targeting Osweiler in free agency, as their quarterback situation is a mess and they are picking too far back in the 2016 NFL Draft to select one of the top quarterback prospects. The Texans have released a lot of players, including Arian foster, Garrett Graham and Rahim Moore, so this could mean that they are looking to make Osweiler an offer that he cannot refuse.
The Texans already had a lot of cap space, but now this just adds to the notion that they will be seeking Osweiler in free agency. If the Texans take Osweiler, the Broncos will immediately have to look for a quarterback that could get them through the entire season.
The Broncos may draft a quarterback regardless of the outcome in free agency. They can also do themselves a favor by focusing on taking the best player available, and with the 31st pick, that should not be too difficult. The Broncos could use another running back to complement C.J. Anderson, as Ronnie Hillman will become a free agent.
Anderson nor Hillman were to reliable in 2015, so if the Broncos could bring in a guy like Derrick Henry to carry the load, whoever takes over as the starting quarterback for the Broncos should have a bit of an easier time. It is not just this running game that the Broncos should be concerned with; they may need an entire offensive overhaul.
