Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has yet to answer the question everyone is waiting to hear this offseason, and it's truly unknown when he will come to a decision on his future in the league.
The Broncos need a decision from the future Hall of Fame quarterback soon, as they are looking to lockup quarterback Brock Osweiler, and the exclusive negotiating window closes this upcoming Monday. Manning will need to make a decision by latest Tuesday, as that's when his $19 million salary becomes guaranteed.
The team looks to be moving on from Manning without his decision this offseason, as Denver's front office has reportedly made a "competitive offer" to retain Osweiler. The offer is reportedly "likely to be more than Los Angeles Rams quarterback Nick Foles' $12.27 million per season." The Broncos front office is making a push to retain their former second round draft pick, as they don't want him to hit the open market, where they will likely have to compete to re-sign him.
Osweiler helped lead the Broncos to a 5-2 record as a starter last season and proved himself a viable starting quarterback in the league, completing 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,967 yards. Osweiler is heading into his fifth season in the league, but he is still developing and still needs work on ball security.
The Broncos were able to get wins last season despite turnovers from their offseason, as they had one of the all-time great defenses that decimated the number offense in the league in Super Bowl 50. Denver's front office made sure to take care of the most important business first this offseason, as they placed the franchise tag on linebacker Von Miller and are now focused on keeping the quarterback that they hope can be the future of the franchise.
The Broncos also want to bring back defensive lineman Malik Jackson this offseason, but it's unknown if they will be able to contend with multiple other teams, as he is seen as one of the best free agents on the open market this offseason. The Broncos reportedly aren't waiting on Manning to make his decision any longer, as they are moving forward with Osweiler and will have to make a decision themselves on Manning by Tuesday afternoon if they want to clear 16.5 million in salary cap space.
It seems Manning's time in Denver has come to an end unless the future Hall of Famer is willing to take significant pay cut, so the team can retain both him and Osweiler, which seems highly unlikely. The Broncos may be forcing Manning's hand with their decision to go with Osweiler, and it will be interesting to watch how this plays out over the next several days when Denver's cap space and plans will become much clearer.
