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2014 Roster: Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Zac Dysert
2014 Broncos Free Agents: None
2014 Cap Figures (via spotrac.com)
| Player | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Other Bonus | Dead Money | Cap Figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peyton Manning | 15,000,000 | - | 2,500,000 | -22,500,000 | 17,500,000 |
| Brock Osweiler | 570,000 | 249,396 | 139,700 | -498,794 | 959,096 |
| Zac Dysert | 495,000 | 12,050 | - | -36150 | 507,050 |
2014 QB Cap Hit: $18,966,146 .
Projected 2014 Cap Space: Between $18 and 20 million.
Be the Broncos GM
Be the Broncos GM
As long as Peyton Manning is in uniform, the Broncos famously don't need a Plan B. But how much longer does Peyton Manning really have?
This 2014 season will be an absolutely crucial year. It's Denver's best opportunity to find the heir apparent to Peyton Manning - whether that person is currently on this Broncos roster or not.
Peyton Manning
Manning enters the third year of his five-year contract with the Broncos in 2014, but it's important to note that his agreement really acts like five consecutive one-year deals. The Broncos and Manning agreed to a contract that protects Denver, any given year, from complications related to the four neck surgeries Manning underwent before he signed with the Broncos in 2012. Manning can hang them up for his health related to his neck fusion, and the Broncos won't be on the books for the following year.
That brings the current time period into sharp focus as Manning may have already undergone his neck evaluation with his doctors, or it may be scheduled for next week, depending on if you trust ESPN or the Denver Post. The reigning NFL MVP has indicated he plans to return in 2014 assuming his physical goes well.
"He should be fine," VP John Elway said at the combine.
Manning threw a record 55 touchdowns and 5,477 yards in 2013, breaking just about every NFL record in the booksin the process. The Broncos will certainly be in better shape if Manning is in good enough shape to return.
Brock Osweiler
This offseason feels like it will be a turning point for Brock Osweiler. Is he the heir apparent to Peyton Manning? He could be; hell, he should be. The Broncos spent a second round draft pick on the 6'8" product out of ASU, after all.
Still, Osweiler is entering the third year of his four-year rookie deal, and I don't believe the Broncos have seen enough game footage to make a firm decision either way. His game experience has been nil with Peyton Manning in the huddle. The most action he has gotten was in 2013's Week 17 against the Raiders. In that one conservative half against Oakland, Osweiler completed 9 of 13 passes for 85 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, with the game comfortably out of Oakland's reach. Not a lot to go on.
The stats don't tell the whole story though; Oz went deep a few times. And while two of these attempts fell incomplete, you could see the touch and arm strength that sold a Hall-of-Fame-QB-turned-GM on Big Brock's potential.
For more on Brock Osweiler, check out metalman5050's excellent FanPost on Denver's third-year QB.
Zac Dysert
The Broncos - i.e. John Elway and his staff - love Zac Dysert. I heard it all during training camp, from beat writers and radio guys - Dysert is Elway's guy. He has a Howlitzer for an arm, and NFL.com's draft profile on Dystert said he compares to Ben Roethlisberger, who many have compared to Elway himself in the past. I didn't see a lot of positives out of Dysert in training camp, but he escaped with a roster spot; I'll definitely defer to Elway's expertise when it comes to QBs before my own.
How do you feel about Denver's state of the roster at quarterback? Are you comfortable with Brock Osweiler filling the role of the heir apparent? Should the Broncos sign a free agent or use a decent draft pick to provide Brock competition?