Nine Potential Destinations for Peyton Manning if He's Done in Denver

Peyton Manning might not be back with the Broncos next season. The team’s in flux. Manning’s due a non-guaranteed $19 million next season, Demaryius and Julius Thomas are free agents, and John Fox also may not return. If Manning does not opt to retire, Denver probably would want him back — as we’ll see, the league’s not exactly teeming with pleasant alternatives — but this cost may be too high for John Elway’s liking after Manning was physically limited over the past month or two.

It’s obviously super early for all this but let’s say that, hypothetically, Manning opts not to retire (or maybe pulls a Favre?), figures the Broncos’ window is shut, and won’t take a pay cut from a team he doesn’t think he can compete with. He finagles a release or trade. He’d be an immediate and sensible upgrade for nearly a third of the league. Even if the rental did not pay dividends on the field for that franchise, it would at least make them relevant and popular. These destinations would seem to make some sense:

1. Houston – These are the circumstances most ripe for immediate contention. Manning would not be called upon to shoulder the entire burden. A beastly JJ Watt fortifies a solid defense, Arian Foster averaged 4.8 yards per carry this season, and DeAndre Hopkins had 1,200 receiving yards catching balls thrown by the immortal trio of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, and Case Keenum. The media would be INSUFFERABLE the first time Manning hits Watt for a touchdown.

2. Tennessee – Manning’s beloved in his alma mater’s state, and the weather’s decent. That’s about all the nice things you can say about the franchise. Ken Whisenhunt’s teams are 20-44 in his last four seasons as head coach, and he STILL seems like the type of guy who would put up resistance to letting Manning be the de facto offensive coordinator.

3. Arizona – They just signed Carson Palmer to a big extension, but it’s uncertain when he’ll return from knee surgery and whether he’ll be effective again at 35. The Cardinals have a great defense, and perhaps Larry Fitzgerald would be more inclined to restructure his deal with greater assurance that passes would no longer be flying eight feet over his head. The major drawback here is that the NFC West is the toughest division in the league. Facing the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers twice apiece is not the optimal way to remain healthy.

4. New York Jets – Let’s say Marcus Mariota does NOT fall to the Jets, as TBL predicted in his latest mock draft. Can you justify the risk of Jameis Winston with New York’s temptations and media? Manning would be reunited with Eric Decker, and Woody Johnson would have the big story he fetishizes so much. Cons are the weather, playing in the same division as Brady, and the fact that the Jets do not yet have a head coach.

5. Cleveland – If the Browns decide to move on from Johnny Manziel, or that he’s just not ready yet and could benefit from some tutelage, you could see Jimmy Haslam pushing his personnel people to go after Manning. Josh Gordon is a hell of a weapon if he can stay out of trouble and get back in shape around the team facilities this offseason, and their defense is pretty good. Even just guiding the team to a playoff berth would make the fan base eternally thankful. The weather’s not great, though, and the offensive staff is still TBD.

6. Philadelphia – Even at this point in his career, Manning is probably an upgrade over Nick Foles. Jeremy Maclin (if he re-signs) is a weapon, and LeSean McCoy is a candidate for a bounce-back year. Could Peyton Manning and Chip Kelly coexist when each demands so much control?

7. Washington – RG3 seems pretty entrenched with Daniel Snyder, but would that loyalty really persist if Manning suddenly became available? This is another city where Manning would be revered if he won right away, but he’d probably grow tired of DeSean Jackson supremely fast.

8. Tampa Bay – Given that they have the first pick in the draft — and thus the choice between Winston and Mariota — one would presume they’d fill their quarterback hole that way. Nevertheless, Manning paired with Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans is all of a sudden an offense that’s ready to put up gobs of points for as long as the quarterback can remains healthy. At the very least, September and October would be a lot more fun in Florida than it has been in recent years.

9. St. Louis – Defense is fantastic, they play in a dome, and Jeff Fisher would probably grant him autonomy of the offense. The receiving corps is decent, and the franchise is stocked with picks. The NFC West presents the same drawbacks as in Arizona.