Peyton Manning Trade Rumors: Top 4 Potential Destinations for Superstar QB

Now that the Indianapolis Colts have earned themselves the top pick in the 2012 NFL draft, discussion of quarterback Peyton Manning's future with the team will only increase.

The Colts are almost guaranteed to take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first overall pick, and depending on the team's plans, could choose to move forward with Luck as their starter in 2012.

That leaves Manning the odd man out. The Colts owe him a $28 million roster bonus in March; if they don't pay him, that effectively makes Manning a free agent, able to sign with any team who may need the services of the likely Hall of Famer.

In the following slides, I detail four teams that would be well-served to pick up Manning should be become available in free agency.

Washington Redskins

At 5-11 in 2011, the Washington Redskins need a lot of help but most significantly at quarterback. With the team starting both John Beck and Rex Grossman this season, it's clear that upgrading the position should be a top priority for the team in the offseason.

The Redskins have good positioning in the draft, but there are other teams ahead of them that also have need at quarterback, and at this point, it doesn't look like more than two or three of the draft-eligible quarterbacks are worth a first-round pick.

So, the Redskins may find themselves picking up a project quarterback worth developing on the bench in a later round and searching for a proven veteran to start in the short term, which makes Peyton Manning an excellent fit.

Manning's price tag is liable to be high, but the Redskins haven't had trouble spending top dollar in recent years for a variety of players. With Manning under center for Washington, they're guaranteed offensive improvements.

If they can keep him around for a season or two to help develop a younger backup, then it bodes well for the Redskins' chances to finally field a strong offense.

Seattle Seahawks

Just like the Washington Redskins, the Seattle Seahawks have an unsustainable situation at quarterback, with Tarvaris Jackson starting in 2011 and Charlie Whitehurst on the bench as his backup.

Though Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has been extremely supportive of Jackson, there's little chance for the Seahawks to be a competitive team in 2012 without a significant upgrade at quarterback.

If Seattle doesn't move to draft a ready-to-start quarterback this year, then they'll be looking to an established veteran to take the reins of the offense for the next season or two.

If Peyton Manning hits the free agent market, he'll easily be the most established, successful quarterback to do so, and it would behoove the Seahawks to make a play for him. The NFC West isn't a hotbed of quarterback talent; adding Manning would instantly vault the team into playoff contention in 2012.

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have had some relative success with Matt Moore at quarterback this year, but it's hard to imagine that being sustainable through 2012 and beyond. With Chad Henne a free agent looking to test the waters in search of a starting job, the Dolphins will need to find a long-term solution at the position.

Should that prove difficult, via either the draft or free agency, they can easily snag someone worth developing while offering a shorter term deal to Peyton Manning, should he become a free agent in March.

The Dolphins are on a coaching search, with their sights set on former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher topping their list. Reports are that Fisher will only consider offers from teams with playmaking quarterbacks.

If it seems like the Colts will be parting ways with a healthy Manning, the Dolphins may try to make that move to lure Fisher to the team.

It's going to take a top quarterback for any AFC East team to compete with the New England Patriots, and Manning would elevate the Dolphins' chances to contend in the division considerably.

New York Jets

The New York Jets are a long-shot to make a play for Peyton Manning should he become a free agent this offseason, but they're worth discussing considering current starter Mark Sanchez is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and hasn't managed to do much to hold onto his starting job.

Head coach Rex Ryan has stated and re-stated his desire to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory for three seasons now, but has fallen short every time, with Sanchez's limitations a major reason why the team hasn't managed to get to the NFL's biggest game.

What makes this move so unlikely, however, is the potential for a major personality clash between Ryan and Manning. Both men need a great deal of control, and it's going to be hard for Ryan to give up so much of it to Manning, regardless of how talented a quarterback he is.

The Jets have a number of issues that need addressing, with locker room leadership a major problem. Manning would be a sure-fire leader and a quarterback worth relying on, but first he'd have to be convinced that the Jets would be a good fit for him.