Denver Broncos fans may not want to start thinking off life post-Peyton Manning, but that reality could be coming sooner than many want to believe. The quarterback has said numerous times he intends on coming back in 2014 despite early retirement reports, but it is time for the team to start grooming his successor sooner rather than later. Could a quarterback be a top target in the upcoming draft?
Bleacher Reports makes a case regarding the future of the Denver Broncos, stating youth needs to be their top priority in the offseason, specifically at the quarterback position. With the offseason now in full swing, the focus will now shift to Manning and what the future looks like for the quarterback going forward.
ESPN.com reports the quarterback will have medical tests this offseason that could determine how much longer he can play football. After missing the entire 2011 season following a neck injury and fusion surgery, Manning risks feeling repercussions later down the road. NFL Insider Chris Mortensen believes the outcome of these tests will determine if Manning is forced to retire early. The quarterback denies the idea that it will come this season.
"I certainly had a career change two years ago with my injury, with changing teams so I truly have been a one-year-at-a-time basis, so I really have no plans beyond this game," Manning said, via ESPN.com on Super Bowl Media Day. "I had no plans coming into this season beyond this year, I think that's kind a healthy way to approach your career at this stage. I still enjoy playing football, I feel a little better than I thought I would at this point coming off that surgery. I still enjoy the preparation part of it, the work part of it. Everybody enjoys the game, everybody's excited to play in a Super Bowl, but I think when you still enjoy the preparation, the work part of it, I think you still ought to be doing that. I think as soon as I stop enjoying it, if I can't do this, if I can't help the team, that's when I stop playing."
The Broncos will address other needs in the early rounds of the draft, but with this year's class stocked with quarterback talent in each round, expect the Broncos to take a look at someone in the fourth round at the earliest. Denver could be poised to draft a player like AJ McCarron or Aaron Murray in a later round. Both quarterbacks have a skillset similar to Manning's that would be adjusting to the Broncos' offensive system very smooth. They can spend time learning under Manning before possibly transitioning into a full-time starter at some point.