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Denver Broncos not interested in taking a quarterback in 2015 NFL Draft

By Patrick Schmidt

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Denver Broncos know Peyton Manning won’t be around forever but they also weren’t interested in drafting a potential successor for him in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Peyton Manning is returning to the Denver Broncos for another season whether it’s at the end of this season or next season they will have to prepare for life after Manning.

That won’t be this year with a weak group of quarterbacks not providing much depth at the game’s most important position, so rather than reach for a player they don’t think can be a player who sticks on the roster, the Broncos are filling needs elsewhere.

And that means they’re probably not going to take a signal-caller in this year’s draft. According to Troy Renck, John Elway didn’t even think about taking a quarterback in the third round where Garrett Grayson and Sean Mannion came off the board and Bryce Petty was available.

This should be interpreted as Elway not liking the quarterback available when they were picking and he wasn’t enamored with any of the available arms to package some picks to get in position to take one. Secondly, it tells me they feel confident in former second round pick Brock Osweiler should he be called to play should Manning suffer an injury and be forced to miss any action.

Osweiler hasn’t had much of an opportunity yet with 30 pass attempts in his first three seasons, but Elway must be pleased with how the former Sun Devil is equipping himself in the quarterbacks room and on the practice field. Having Manning around to pick his brain and pick up any skills that will serve him when his time is called is a pretty advantageous position for a young quarterback. Heck, it’s an advantageous for a quarterback of any age.

At this time next year, however, Elway and the Broncos could be more inclined to draft a quarterback depending on the production and more importantly the health of Manning at the end of this season. He was injured at the end of the 2014 season and took some time at the end of the year to contemplate his future before deciding to hold off on retirement for at least another  year.

Should Manning get injured or see his production diminish greatly, the Broncos will likely explore the 2016 group of quarterbacks after holding off on taking one in this year’s draft.

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