Who Should the Broncos Take at Quarterback in the NFL Draft?

It's only a few hours away from draft time, with the Denver Broncos selecting at No. 25 on prime time television tonight.

With Denver having a few select needs, the most likely route it seems Denver will head into is drafting a defensive tackle with their first overall selection.

In a less likely scenario, Denver could draft a tight end, such as Coby Fleener out of Stanford, to give Peyton Manning a receiving threat from the tight end position in the vain of Dallas Clark.

Having said that, Denver's selections after the first round are a bit of a mystery.

The Broncos have a myriad of depth needs, in no particular order, positions such as defensive back, running back, defensive line, tight end, linebacker, and even quarterback.

Yes, even with a four-time NFL MVP such as Peyton Manning, the Broncos need depth at quarterback. With Caleb Hanie as Manning's top backup and practice squader Adam Weber currently in the third-string role, it would seem the perfect time for Denver to draft Manning's eventually backup, and maybe eventual successor, at quarterback with a mid-round selection.

So the question becomes, who should Denver draft at quarterback in the 2012 NFL Draft? And when will they draft said quarterback?

With Denver unlikely to draft a quarterback in the first round, let's look at the quarterbacks they'll most likely choose from in the second, third, and fourth rounds.

After the top trio of Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Ryan Tannehill comes the next tier trio in in Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler and Kirk Cousins.

The Broncos have looked at all three quarterbacks in-depth recently, having checked out Osweiler's pro day, while bringing in Cousins for a pre-draft visit. Before the Broncos acquired Peyton Manning, Denver's brass had dinner with Brandon Weeden.

If the Broncos are to draft a quarterback in the 2012 NFL draft with the full intention of possibly developing him into Manning's successor, it'll likely be between these three quarterbacks.

Obviously of the litter of the three, Brandon Weeden is the most appealing.

He'll be 29 years old next October, which is about the only reason why he is projected as a second round selection. If it wasn't for his advanced age, most would consider Weeden as a first round talent.

Weeden has prototypical quarterback size, at 6-4 and 220 pounds. He was a two year starter at Oklahoma State after trying out his hand at professional baseball for about five years. Weeden broke numerous school passing records and led OK State to an 11-1 record and No. 3 BCS ranking in his senior year.

Of the three second-tier quarterbacks Weeden is considered the most ready by NFL Draft experts.

Kirk Cousins comes off a three-year starting career with the Michigan State Spartans. He is considered the fifth-best quarterback in the draft, with pundits saying his negatives include a lack of arm strength, an inability to complete deep passes and a high-reliance on quick screens.

Osweiler started just one year at Arizona State, entering the draft as an underclassman. At 6-8, Osweiler has the arm strength and the vision to make every throw on an NFL field. However, one of his negatives include staring down receivers too long.

With the Broncos on the eve of the NFL Draft, if Denver wants to truly draft Manning's successor and have him learn under the tutelage of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, it would be a no-brainer to draft Weeden.

With the amount of interest the Broncos have shown in Weeden since March, there is no doubt that John Elway and John Fox have an extreme interest in drafting Weeden.

The question becomes, with Weeden projected as a second round draft pick, are the Broncos willing to postpone their other positions of need, such as defensive back and running back, in order to draft a quarterback as a high selection who will turn 29 during the regular season, and not even be the starting quarterback until Manning is ready to hang it up?

If the Broncos are unwilling to do so, expect the Broncos to draft Willis McGahee's replacement at running back, or even possibly further address the defensive tackle void.

If Denver passes on Weeden, expect either Osweiler or Cousins to be drafted by the Broncos. If Denver chooses to go for a quarterback later in the draft instead of the middle rounds, Ryan Lindley of San Diego State would also be an option.

What it all boils down to is, how badly do the Broncos want a quarterback?