2012 NFL Free Agents: Power Ranking Peyton Manning's Final Three Suitors

The Peyton Manning saga will be over very soon.

We know this because Albert Breer of the NFL Network knows this:

"

Per league sources, Peyton Manning has informed clubs that he plans on making a final decision on his future on Monday or Tuesday. ...

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 17, 2012"

Good. The last thing we need is the "Pursuit of Manning" split-screen becoming a regular feature on SportsCenter.

According to Mike Klis of The Denver Post, it's down to three teams: the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers.

So where does Manning fit best? 

Well, here's how I rank the remaining teams in terms of how well Manning would fit in.

3. Denver Broncos

The Broncos are a great fit for Manning in the sense that he'd be working for great people. Having an all-time great quarterback in John Elway watching over him would be a perk, and Manning would be playing for a savvy head coach who likes veteran quarterbacks in John Fox.

The picture is not so bright when you look at what Denver has to offer Manning out on the field. Demaryius Thomas is a solid young wide receiver, but the Broncos lack playmakers on offense behind him and their offensive line is a shaky unit. It also cannot be taken for granted that the Broncos will get another outstanding season from aged veteran Willis McGahee.

The cold weather concerns in the Manning sweepstakes are apparently not a deal-breaker, but having to play home games in Denver late in the season is not ideal for Manning, or any other quarterback. Manning would be wise to gravitate towards a place where he knows weather is not going to slow him down come playoff time.

It should also be kept in mind that it's not like the Broncos are a great quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender. The perception was that the Broncos were held back by Tim Tebow, but this defense is far from perfect too.

If Manning is looking to return to the Super Bowl, he can do better.

2. Tennessee Titans

The Titans are a very intriguing option for Manning, and not just because of the Tennessee nostalgia factor.

The Titans have talent on offense. Kenny Britt was on his way to having an outstanding season before he got hurt last year, and Chris Johnson looked much more like himself once he got in shape halfway through the season. We also know that Johnson is a guy who can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Just as important is the quality of Tennessee's defense. The Titans ranked eighth in the NFL in scoring defense in 2011, and they boast some pretty good young players in key spots. It's happening under the radar, but this defense is headed in the right direction (though Cortland Finnegan will have to be replaced).

There's also the appeal of playing in the AFC South, which features two sure-to-be-rotten teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts. If Manning feels like taking it to his old team twice a year and having a legit shot at winning a winnable division, playing in the AFC South should intrigue him.

The Titans went 9-7 with poor quarterback play last season. With potentially great quarterback play, the Titans could go far.

1. San Francisco 49ers

If Manning is looking to get back to the Super Bowl as soon as this season, he should give some serious thought to joining the 49ers.

If there's one thing we know about the 49ers, it's that they have a Super Bowl-caliber defense. The 49ers had the best scoring defense in the NFC, and it boasts stars like Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Aldon Smith, Navorro Bowman and Carlos Rogers.

On offense, the 49ers have one of the best running backs in the league in Frank Gore, one of the best tight ends in the league in Vernon Davis and they just signed Randy Moss. Their offensive line has issues, but the other toys make that easy to overlook.

The 49ers are set on the field, and Manning could rest easy knowing he'll be playing under one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL. 

The 49ers were a few unlucky bounces away from the Super Bowl with Alex Smith under center. With Peyton Manning under center, they'd be equipped to win it. Not a doubt about it.