Forecasting Peyton Manning's Future with Prospective Free Agent Suitors

Peyton Manning in any colors other than Colts blue and white is not something many ever expected to see. Then again, seeing him on the sideline for an entire season after starting every single game in his career wasn't something many expected to see either.

On the heels of the first 16 games Peyton's ever missed will be his inevitable release from the Indianapolis Colts. With exactly one week until the March 8th deadline for which they must pay the future Hall of Famer a $28 million roster bonus, there has been no talk of renegotiating and no talk of extending the deadline either.

The Colts own the No. 1 overall pick, have a new head coach and GM and are the definition of a "rebuilding" franchise.

Peyton doesn't need to be involved in that and come this time next week, at the latest, we'll legitimately be talking about what color jersey No. 18 will be wearing next season.

Everything hinges on Peyton's health, but every team also presents a different future...

Miami Dolphins

Landing a quarterback before the draft is crucial to the Miami Dolphins' success for this season and future seasons. As owners of the No. 8 pick they cannot guarantee themselves a chance at one of the top three, let alone top two, quarterbacks in the class.

The Dolphins want to go all in on Peyton because they believe they'll be able to compete immediately anyway.

They have arguably the best left tackle in all of a football, a first-round pick center entering only the second year of his career, a two-headed running attack who can go both in between and outside the tackles, a star No. 1 receiver and a defense that will only get better.

At No. 8 overall they should have themselves a chance at either adding an elite right tackle to pair opposite Jake Long for the duration of Peyton's career in South Beach, or a chance at adding a defensive playmaker who can help them get after the passer.

Either way, by landing Peyton in free agency they'll have the opportunity to get even better immediately in the draft.

The Dolphins play in a tough division, but Peyton is no ordinary quarterback and this team could be a contender for an AFC Wild Card next year and possibly even more the year after that.

Washington Redskins

Signing in Washington would be a dangerous move for No. 18. Owner Daniel Snyder has always been willing to do whatever it takes to get better, but his big moves have been some of his worst moves and this team doesn't have a lot of offensive firepower to get excited about.

They do own the No. 6 overall pick and could add someone like Justin Blackmon should he be available, but that is still a long shot.

The Redskins do provide an interesting option of Peyton playing against younger brother Eli twice a season in the NFC East, but that is also a problem. 

While the Giants won the division with only a 9-7 record last season, the NFC East is notoriously difficult to play in. The one team that hasn't won the division since the turn of the century is the Redskins.

It would be an interesting ride, but it wouldn't be the best opportunity for Peyton to win right now. 

Seattle Seahawks

This team has upwards of $30 million in cap room and they are one of the most talented young clubs in all of football.

Coach Pete Carroll has carefully assembled a stingy, speedy defense as well as a number of young offensive players just waiting to fully hit their stride. They do lack a true No. 1 receiver, but Sidney Rice and Mike Williams have both played that role at various times in their career and Peyton wouldn't have trouble utilizing either of them. He could turn Doug Baldwin into a genuine slot star and may even help Golden Tate figure things out as well.

If healthy and developed, the Seahawks' line should be able to protect No. 18 and they are in a very winnable division. As good as the 49ers were in 2011, it will take a whole heck of a lot to stay at that level.

The Great Northwest would provide Peyton with a young team waiting to take the next step in a very winnable division. The Seahawks can't guarantee the QB postseason success immediately, but they can at least offer him a shot to make the postseason and sometimes that is all it takes—just ask Eli.

Kansas City Chiefs

We're starting to reach a little bit here, but there has been chatter surrounding the Chiefs and Peyton in recent weeks. Kansas City isn't sure whether or not Matt Cassel is truly capable of leading this team, but they do have a number of players looking for an elite quarterback to take over.

Jamaal Charles and Tony Moaeki will return from injury in 2012, Dwayne Bowe is expected to be franchise tagged and with all three players on the field, Peyton will have a number of weapons to choose from—not too mention Dexter McCluster lining up everywhere but under center.

KC's line will get better and they could very easily add another part in the first round of this year's draft.

Defensively, things will pick up immediately with Romeo Crennel now firmly entrenched as the head coach, and if they were to add Peyton before the draft they could focus on finding the players Crennel needs.

The Chiefs play in a division where things have opened up to almost a dead heat. Oakland has a new everything and a royal mess on their hands. San Diego is handicapped by their inability fire Norv Turner and it will backfire. And Denver, well, what more needs to be said other than Tebow.

If Peyton were playing with a healthy Kansas City team they would more than likely be the favorites to win the division for the duration of his career at Arrowhead. 

Arizona Cardinals

Adding Peyton Manning at least gives the Cardinals an out for the mistake they made in trading for Kevin Kolb last year. They'll try and sell Kurt Warner's career revival with Larry Fitzgerald to Peyton, but it is highly unlikely that he'll care to hear it.

The Cardinals, like the Seahawks, are in a very winnable division, but this team is so up and down that it is impossible to know what they're going to do.

If Peyton wants to take a chance, Arizona might be the biggest boom-or-bust option. That doesn't sound like a good idea for a guy who only has a few years left.

New York Jets

This is trouble all the way around. Going to New York is the biggest long shot on this list and would ultimately end in disaster. There simply is no way around it and if Peyton were foolish enough to join the Jets, then he deserves all the trouble that comes with it.

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