The Denver Broncos have a new head coach with Gary Kubiak and they are hoping that Peyton Manning returns for 2015 and this comes as the team has Demaryius Thomas hitting the free agent market and he joins names like Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin and Torrey Smith as players available at his position, while Larry Fitzgerald could be released by the Arizona Cardinals this offseason as well.
The Broncos finished the season with another one and done playoffs appearance and that put the future for Manning and the team in question. John Fox and John Elway did not see eye to eye about next year and that is why Gary Kubiak is now the head coach. According to Pro Football Talk, Manning is likely to return as long as things check out well on his annual physical, as Woody Paige of the Denver Post reports that he will return for his fourth year with the Broncos.
Manning had another strong regular season, but he was clearly hurt down the stretch and that is why he looked so work out in the playoffs against the Colts. The Broncos made numerous improvements to their defense this offseason after losing badly in the Super Bowl and that is why expectations were so high. Had the Broncos made it to the AFC championship game there is chance that John Fox would still have his job. The team brought in Kubiak and there is chance they will also have to replace Adam Gase at offensive coordinator after Jack Del Rio left as defensive coordinator to take over the Raiders.
Manning is expected to return and that is step one for the Broncos, as they do not really have a plan B with the QB position right now. Thomas is going to cost a bunch and while the team wants him to return, they have other options if he leaves. Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith and Eddie Royal are all free agent options and the team could look at signing one of those names if Thomas takes more money with another team. Thomas is expected to stay with the Broncos though, according to ESPN.com reporter Adam Schefter.
The Arizona Cardinals may look at the trade or release of Larry Fitzgerald into the 2015 season, as the wide receiver has a massive salary cap hit coming up and if that happens, teams like the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots could be interested in acquiring him, as he is a Hall of Fame talent despite his age. Fitzgerald could be a perfect fit for the Broncos if he is released, as he will not be as bad of a cap hit and Denver is likely letting Wes Welker go after this season.
Fitzgerald is on the wrong side of 30, but his track record is as good as anyone's in the NFL and if the Cardinals decide to move him, there won't be a shortage of suitors. According to Fox Sports Arizona, Fitzgerald likely will not be with the team in 2015 and while there has been some "positive progress" regarding his contract situation, nothing has been resolves. Fitzgerald has a huge cap hit and that is why it's likely he will be gone from the Cardinals unless he takes a pay cut.
