The Denver Broncos are coming off of another playoffs loss and into 2015 the big question is whether Peyton Manning will come back and reports have that likely happening and this comes as Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Orlando Franklin are all hitting free agency and if some of them leave, Larry Fitzgerald, Jeremy Maclin or Eddie Royal could be free agent options.
The Broncos have Gary Kubiak coming in to take over for John Fox at head coach and that could have a major impact on Manning returning, but in a good way. According to ESPN.com and Pro Football Talk, Manning is likely to return for 2015 for a fourth season and he will take his annual physical coming up and if everything checks out, he will be back. Woody Paige of the Denver Post reported that Manning was not concerned about the coaching changes with Fox and Adam Gase leaving, as he has put his trust in John Elway and likes the Kubiak move. Manning will make a $19 million base salary next season and that will be guaranteed after March 9 and right now the team doesn't have much of a backup plan apart from Brock Osweiler.
The Broncos have other concerns apart from Manning, as the team has a number of free agents hitting the market and some of those names are significant. Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas top the list of the 17 potential free agents and other names to watch include Wes Welker and Orlando Franklin. Welker is likely gone, as he had a down season while dealing with a suspension and concussions, while the Thomas boys will be main targets.
Thomas the wide receiver will be the top target for the Broncos, as he is coming off of a career year with 111 catches for 1619 yards and 11 touchdowns. Thomas tied for the lead in touchdowns at the TE position with 12 and he has been a game changer for Manning. The team may look at Larry Fitzgerald is he is released by the Cardinals, while Thomas could be a main target for the Oakland Raiders, as they are desperate for some playmakers.
Manning finished the season banged up with a thigh injury and that affected his play in the AFC playoffs game against the Colts. The Broncos are hoping that he can come back and play at a high level once again, as many felt the team had the chance to make it to the Super Bowl this year. That is one reason why Elway made a change, as he Felt Fox had the personnel he needed on defense to make another run after losing to the Seahawks last year. Kubiak comes in with high familiarity with the Broncos and Elway and that could be a huge positive for the team moving forward.
The Broncos are in for some major changes into 2015, as they now have a new head coach and will have a new defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator with Jack Del Rio and Adam Gase gone. Manning should be fine with whoever comes back and whoever takes over the offense, but without Fox and Gase, the offense will have to find a way to keep things going like they did in 2014.
