The Denver Broncos suffered another disappointing playoffs loss and now Peyton Manning could lose some top players in free agency, as Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Julius Thomas, Brandon Marshall, Jacob Tamme, Orlando Franklin, Rahim Moore, Virgil Green and Terrance Knighton all could hit the market in 2015 and the Broncos roster could look very different.
The Broncos suffered another disappointing loss in the playoffs and now Peyton Manning, John Fox and John Elway will have some major questions to answer heading into 2015. Manning has said that he hopes to continue playing, but after this loss things could be up in the air, while Fox likely is safe but also could face some scrutiny. The Colts defense was strong on Sunday and they kept the Broncos offense out of sync and Manning did not look fully healthy.
Heading into 2015 the Broncos have six starters hitting the free agent market and while the salary cap is expected to rise, it will be tough to keep them all. Demaryius Thomas is the top name to watch, as he was the leading receiver for Manning and he will be in line for a major new contract. Thomas had over 110 catches for 1619 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Julius Thomas had 12 touchdowns and was a consistent target at tight end.
Manning was "non-committal" about returning in 2015 according to Pro Football Talk and he said he would take some time to think about his future. Adam Gase could end up in a new job after serving as Manning's offensive coordinator and if he does leave, the Broncos will have $19 million to spend on other players, including their own free agents.
Manning looked a bit off on Sunday night against the Colts, pushing some balls on throws he usually makes and he ended up with 211 yards and one touchdown. Manning is 4-7 in the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl according to ESPN.com and now he will have to think about the potential end of his career. The Broncos will have numerous questions moving forward and if Manning retires, they likely will look for a veteran over giving things to Brock Osweiler.
The Broncos have significant players on both sides of the ball hitting the market, including Orlando Franklin, Wes Welker, Rahim Moore and Will Montgomery. The new league year starts on March 10 and that is when unrestricted free agents are allowed to start signing with other teams. Manning just completed his third season with the Broncos and this could be even more disappointing than the Super Bowl. The team was blown out by the Seahawks, but this year they will not even get the chance to defend their AFC title against the Patriots.
The Broncos ranked fourth in the league in passing yards per game this season and they had a top 10 ranked defense, but it wasn't good enough to win in the playoffs. The Broncos earned a first round bye and had 12 wins this season and despite ranking in the top 10 in passing yards allowed per game and putting three defensive backs in the Pro Bowl, it will be Andrew Luck playing Tom Brady and not Peyton Manning.