Cross-off-the-List Pt. 1: New England, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Washington, Green Bay, Minnesota, Carolina, Arizona, Seattle
These are the teams that are already pretty good (and I'm counting a Colts team led by a health Andrew Luck in that group), with a proven QB that is either a veteran, or someone under contract who performed well last year and is still young (Bridgewater, Cousins). None of these teams have a need at QB, and all can somewhat think to themselves as Super Bowl contenders.
Cross-off-the-List Pt. 2: Baltimore, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Oakland, San Diego, Dallas, New York (n), Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay
These are teams that are not as good, but have entrenched QBs. Some are young potential franchise QBs (Mariota, Carr, Winston, Bortles), some are older but are recently re-signed and have full commitment as their teams starting QB (Flacco, Rivers, Romo, Manning, Ryan, Brees), and some are situations that aren't perfect, but the starter is pretty much known and Manning, at this stage, provides no real improvement opportunity (Bradford, Cutler, Stafford)
Tier 1: The Long Shots:
Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns
Finding any good situation for Peyton is tough. The last time he went through this, he could make a mediocre offense great - he pretty much did that at Denver. Now, he needs to find a team that is good enough outside the QB position to still challenge for 8-8. The Bills are a potential option given their roster outside of QB, but it seems Rex Ryan is heavily invested in Tyrod Taylor. The only reason I even have the Bills here because Rex Ryan is slightly insane, and he loves Peyton. He's lost crushing games to him in the past, even beaten him a few times. I think he would love to coach Peyton. The Browns are essentially the opposite. They have a need. They have no QB, and even if they draft someone at #2 overall, they can make that guy sit a year. If this was a real draft, they would definitely take Peyton. I don't know if Peyton would take them. He can't go to a team that is 2-3 years away. The Browns are simply not good enough for 2016 Peyton Manning.
Tier 2: The Under-the-radar Candidates:
Miami Dolphins, New York Jets
The AFC East has been looking for a QB who could consistently challenge Tom Brady and Co. in New England for a good decade now. The closest anyone has come is the Jets with Pennington, but since he left it is either the Jets with Sanchez or the Dolphins with Tannehill. Think of how depressing that is. The Jets are one of the teams who can argue that if you give every NFL team the same exact QB performance, the rest of their roster is good enough to win. Ryan Fitzpatrick had a good season, but he's an unrestricted free agent who could find a home elsewhere. Manning may not like the idea of playing in the same city as his brother, not to mention the same division as Tom Brady and the Patriots. That said, the fit is definitely there, with a potentially dominant defense, good targets on the outside, and a decent o-line. They are a team that could replicate the 2015 Broncos.
Tier 3: The Wild Card:
San Francisco 49ers
Who knows what Chip Kelly is ever thinking. In reality, the fit makes no sense - there is no threat to run for Peyton, and it is hard to envision him playing fast. But then again, just two years ago, in 2013 season, the Broncos score-adjusted pace was faster than the Eagles in Chip Kelly's best year. Peyton Manning perfected the no-huddle in the NFL. The fit may make more sense than you think.
Tier 4: The Real Wild Card:
Denver Broncos
In a weird way, this is the easiest option to envision. Now that the Broncos have put the franchise tag on Von Miller, Brock Osweiler is set to become a Free Agent next week. The Broncos will probably retain him, but there is a chance someone swoops in and gives Osweiler, fresh of a 5-2 run against some good teams for the eventual Super Bowl Champion, an offer he can't refuse. If that happens, the Broncos, who know they probably just need competent QB play to be a 10+ win team, may just go right back to Peyton for Round 5. If you remove Osweiler, there's no real incumbent, and the Broncos could draft someone they like at #32 and ride Peyton for a year or two. I would wager if Osweiler signs elsewhere, they become the favorite.
Tier 5: The Co-Favorites
St. Louis Rams, Houston Texans
The Rams are the only team to even reportedly show interest in a reduced Peyton. No other team has even shown the slightest inkling - though I have to imagine multiple are at least investigating privately. For the Rams, though, they have some of the advantages the Broncos gave. They have a defense that is potentially great, including a Von-Miller type in Aaron Donald - different position, but similar talent level. With Todd Gurley they have a running game. The receivers are odd, but maybe a smart QB like Peyton could make them work better. Finally, Houston is to this Manning search to what Arizona was last time - the place I want him to go. The Texans have a good defense, with another Von Miller-level player in Watt. They have a dominant receiver in Nuke Hopkins. They have a seemingly good coaching staff and a good o-line. It also gives Peyton just the perfect set-up, getting to play the Patriots one last time, getting a home-and-home against the Colts, and finally getting a chance to play Denver, which I think he is stilled sligthly miffed with.
These are the teams that are already pretty good (and I'm counting a Colts team led by a health Andrew Luck in that group), with a proven QB that is either a veteran, or someone under contract who performed well last year and is still young (Bridgewater, Cousins). None of these teams have a need at QB, and all can somewhat think to themselves as Super Bowl contenders.
Cross-off-the-List Pt. 2: Baltimore, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Oakland, San Diego, Dallas, New York (n), Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay
These are teams that are not as good, but have entrenched QBs. Some are young potential franchise QBs (Mariota, Carr, Winston, Bortles), some are older but are recently re-signed and have full commitment as their teams starting QB (Flacco, Rivers, Romo, Manning, Ryan, Brees), and some are situations that aren't perfect, but the starter is pretty much known and Manning, at this stage, provides no real improvement opportunity (Bradford, Cutler, Stafford)
Tier 1: The Long Shots:
Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns
Finding any good situation for Peyton is tough. The last time he went through this, he could make a mediocre offense great - he pretty much did that at Denver. Now, he needs to find a team that is good enough outside the QB position to still challenge for 8-8. The Bills are a potential option given their roster outside of QB, but it seems Rex Ryan is heavily invested in Tyrod Taylor. The only reason I even have the Bills here because Rex Ryan is slightly insane, and he loves Peyton. He's lost crushing games to him in the past, even beaten him a few times. I think he would love to coach Peyton. The Browns are essentially the opposite. They have a need. They have no QB, and even if they draft someone at #2 overall, they can make that guy sit a year. If this was a real draft, they would definitely take Peyton. I don't know if Peyton would take them. He can't go to a team that is 2-3 years away. The Browns are simply not good enough for 2016 Peyton Manning.
Tier 2: The Under-the-radar Candidates:
Miami Dolphins, New York Jets
The AFC East has been looking for a QB who could consistently challenge Tom Brady and Co. in New England for a good decade now. The closest anyone has come is the Jets with Pennington, but since he left it is either the Jets with Sanchez or the Dolphins with Tannehill. Think of how depressing that is. The Jets are one of the teams who can argue that if you give every NFL team the same exact QB performance, the rest of their roster is good enough to win. Ryan Fitzpatrick had a good season, but he's an unrestricted free agent who could find a home elsewhere. Manning may not like the idea of playing in the same city as his brother, not to mention the same division as Tom Brady and the Patriots. That said, the fit is definitely there, with a potentially dominant defense, good targets on the outside, and a decent o-line. They are a team that could replicate the 2015 Broncos.
Tier 3: The Wild Card:
San Francisco 49ers
Who knows what Chip Kelly is ever thinking. In reality, the fit makes no sense - there is no threat to run for Peyton, and it is hard to envision him playing fast. But then again, just two years ago, in 2013 season, the Broncos score-adjusted pace was faster than the Eagles in Chip Kelly's best year. Peyton Manning perfected the no-huddle in the NFL. The fit may make more sense than you think.
Tier 4: The Real Wild Card:
Denver Broncos
In a weird way, this is the easiest option to envision. Now that the Broncos have put the franchise tag on Von Miller, Brock Osweiler is set to become a Free Agent next week. The Broncos will probably retain him, but there is a chance someone swoops in and gives Osweiler, fresh of a 5-2 run against some good teams for the eventual Super Bowl Champion, an offer he can't refuse. If that happens, the Broncos, who know they probably just need competent QB play to be a 10+ win team, may just go right back to Peyton for Round 5. If you remove Osweiler, there's no real incumbent, and the Broncos could draft someone they like at #32 and ride Peyton for a year or two. I would wager if Osweiler signs elsewhere, they become the favorite.
Tier 5: The Co-Favorites
St. Louis Rams, Houston Texans
The Rams are the only team to even reportedly show interest in a reduced Peyton. No other team has even shown the slightest inkling - though I have to imagine multiple are at least investigating privately. For the Rams, though, they have some of the advantages the Broncos gave. They have a defense that is potentially great, including a Von-Miller type in Aaron Donald - different position, but similar talent level. With Todd Gurley they have a running game. The receivers are odd, but maybe a smart QB like Peyton could make them work better. Finally, Houston is to this Manning search to what Arizona was last time - the place I want him to go. The Texans have a good defense, with another Von Miller-level player in Watt. They have a dominant receiver in Nuke Hopkins. They have a seemingly good coaching staff and a good o-line. It also gives Peyton just the perfect set-up, getting to play the Patriots one last time, getting a home-and-home against the Colts, and finally getting a chance to play Denver, which I think he is stilled sligthly miffed with.
