5 Struggling NFL Teams Peyton Manning Would Turn into Contenders

Peyton Manning has always been able to turn otherwise average Indianapolis Colts teams into playoff contenders, and he could do the same for a different team next year.

Manning will be 36 years old when he takes his first snap of the 2012 season, so he can be a temporary solution to any team's quarterback problem. Those missing that essential piece but have good talent around the quarterback will be tempted to make a run at Manning while they have the opportunity. It may be worth it to throw millions at a guy that could bring a few playoff seasons to a struggling franchise.

Here are five struggling teams that would become immediate contenders with Manning's help.

Washington Redskins

The quarterback situation in Washington last season was dismal, and having Peyton Manning around would make the Redskins instant contenders in the underachieving NFC East.

The New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles each have enough talent to go 12-4 or better, but even the reigning Super Bowl champions squeaked into the playoffs with a 9-7 record.

The Redskins have enough talent in the receiving corps to provide good targets for Manning. Santana Moss logged several 1,000 yard seasons while catching passes from Jason Campbell and Donovan McNabb. Jabar Gaffney is a veteran who just had the best two years of his career with the Redskins. Tight end Fred Davis is a beast and just needs to stay out of trouble.

The Washington defense is average, ranking 12th against the pass and 18th against the rush last season. Peyton Manning has certainly had to deal with worse during his time with the Colts.

Signing a future Hall of Famer in Manning would energize the players and fans of Washington and turn them into immediate contenders for at least a Wild Card spot and possibly more if the NFC East fails to establish a favorite.

Miami Dolphins

If Matt Moore could turn around an 0-7 team and win six of that team's last nine games, just imagine what Peyton Manning could do.

Brandon Marshall is a game-changing wide receiver that just needs someone to keep him in control. Who better to do that than Manning, a fourteen-year veteran?

Brian Hartline is a solid option at tight end that can pick up chunks of yards, and Davone Bess could really benefit from having an elite quarterback under center.

The biggest difference for Manning, however, is Reggie Bush. Bush may be a better receiver out of the backfield than a runner, as passes get him out into open space quicker than handoffs. He'll be a force at running back that Manning hasn't had since Edgerrin James in the early 2000s.

On defense, the Dolphins are built to beat the rush, as they ranked third in rushing yards allowed last season. However, they carry the league's 25th best passing defense—a bend-but-don't-break style could work with Manning as quarterback.

New York Jets

This is the one every television network wants. Peyton Manning playing in the same city as his brother and in the same division as Tom Brady. Like New England needed another reason to hate New York.

The Jets aren't struggling, per say, but they certainly fell short of expectations last year. And Mark Sanchez was at the center of all the drama.

Sanchez has been a successful game manager, but an elite quarterback like Manning could put the Jets over the top and possibly into the Super Bowl. The Jets' defense is one of the best in the league, so there won't be the same kind of pressure on Manning to be amazing right away.

The receiving corps of Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and Dustin Keller would be more than enough for Manning to work with.

If the Jets landed Manning, they would go from playoff contenders to Super Bowl contenders.

Arizona Cardinals

Kevin Kolb doesn't look like the answer at quarterback, as he missed a lot of 2011 due to injury, and the Arizona Cardinals won more games with John Skelton anyways. But what I really want to focus on here is the possibly of Peyton Manning throwing to Larry Fitzgerald.

The last time the Cardinals brought in a successful veteran quarterback they went to the Super Bowl. Fitzgerald had his best three years catching passes from Kurt Warner, and there isn't any doubt that Peyton Manning is a better quarterback than Warner ever was. Both will be in the Hall of Fame one day, but Manning is just that extra bit amazing.

If Manning went to the Cardinals, not only would Fitzgerald become a first-round fantasy pick, but the San Francisco 49ers would suddenly have some serious competition to contend with in the NFC West.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Josh Freeman was supposed to break out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, but he fell back instead, and all of a sudden the Bucs have questions at quarterback.

After starting out 5-2, Tampa Bay lost ten straight games to finish the season and were mentally checked out by week 13. Head coach Raheem Morris was fired, and the Bucs will want to prove that last year was a fluke.

They have a talented roster but need discipline. Peyton Manning is the type of guy that would immediately have everybody's respect, and he has the ability to turn around the Bucs in a similar way that John Harbaugh turned around the San Francisco 49ers.

The only issue would then be the amount of competition in the NFC South. You have the Saints, led by Super Bowl champion and current passing yards record-holder Drew Brees. The Falcons and Matt Ryan are masters of the regular season. Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers just need a few more pieces to become favorites in the division.

It would be very difficult for Peyton Manning to break through and get to the top of the NFC South, but the Bucs would certainly be contenders with him under center.