Denver Broncos: Full Position Breakdown and Depth Chart Analysis at Quarterback

The Denver Broncos have an interesting quarterback situation developing. Sure, they’re set at the position with starter Peyton Manning leading the way. Manning will give them strong play at the quarterback position once again this season—if healthy.

Protecting Manning is priority No. 1 for the Broncos, and that’s why they’re going to be utilizing a new offense that focuses less on the pass and features a more balanced unit. The Broncos have also made several transactions this offseason to hopefully help upgrade the offensive line.

A healthy Manning likely puts the Broncos in the playoffs in 2015. A new, balanced offense and a fresher Manning in the postseason could put the Broncos in the Super Bowl this year.

Here is a full position breakdown and depth chart analysis of the quarterbacks on the Broncos roster.

Starter: Peyton Manning

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The Broncos have a future Hall of Fame quarterback in starter Peyton Manning. Last year, Manning finished with outstanding numbers once again—but 2014 will go down as a tale of two seasons for the veteran quarterback.

Over the first eight games of the 2014 season, Manning passed for 2,572 yards with a whopping 24 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. However, over the last half of the season Manning had 2,155 yards passing with only 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Manning was beat up in the Week 11 game against the St. Louis Rams, then later injured his quad against the San Diego Chargers in Week 15.

That injury lingered for the rest of the regular season and into the playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts. With the Broncos bounced in the divisional round for the second time in three years, Manning was able to begin the road to recovery.

Now healthy, the Broncos just need to prevent Manning from getting beat up after passes leave his hand. Manning was only sacked on 2.8 percent of his dropbacks (advanced stats provided by ESPN's employees-only database) in 2014—the lowest/best rate in the NFL. He was only under pressure on a league-low 13.5 percent of his dropbacks last season (league average is 25.5 percent).

However, Manning was often hit or knocked down after releasing the ball. These extra hits piled up as the season went on.

Opponents will wisely be focused on slowing down Manning this season, but a rejuvenated rushing attack could help keep defenses honest. With C.J. Anderson leading the way, the Broncos should be able to impose their will on opponents each week.

Manning is also going to benefit from the running game when it comes to play-action passing. The receivers might look a little more open if defenders start creeping toward the line of scrimmage to get a jump on the run.

If Manning’s healthy all season long, then he should be able to perform at a high level as one of the NFL’s best.

Primary Backup: Brock Osweiler

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

When the Broncos made Brock Osweiler a second-round pick in 2012, the idea was to let him develop as the quarterback of the future behind Manning. That future is now in doubt with Osweiler entering the final year of his rookie contract. While Osweiler’s contract expires after the 2015 season, Manning is under contract through the 2016 season.

Osweiler came out of Arizona State as a raw prospect with a rocket arm and intriguing athleticism. However, there were things Osweiler needed to improve in order to become a decent pro quarterback.

At 6’7” tall, Osweiler had too many batted passes at the line of scrimmage during his Sun Devils career because of a low (almost three-quarters release) throwing motion. Osweiler showed the athleticism to make throws on the run, but in a clean pocket he would often stand flat-footed and throws were affected by poor lower-body mechanics.

Watching Osweiler over the last few years in training camp, the preseason and practice during the regular season, it appears like his development has gone well.

Today, Osweiler has a nice throwing motion that is high and over his head. He’s also light on his feet in a clean pocket. This helps him set up his feet better before he releases the pass, and better footwork has improved not only his accuracy, but also his pass placement.

The Broncos have spent years developing Osweiler, and he has a skill set similar to that of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. Head coach Gary Kubiak was the offensive coordinator for the Ravens last year, and he got the best out of Flacco. Kubiak might be able to get similar production out of Osweiler if the young quarterback gets his chance as a starter.

Any efforts to extend Osweiler’s contract will tell us a lot about what the team thinks of his long-term future in the NFL .

Developmental Prospects: Zac Dysert and Trevor Siemian

LM Otero/Associated Press

The Broncos have a couple of developmental quarterbacks on the roster behind Manning and Osweiler in third-year pro Zac Dysert and 2015 seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian.

Dysert was a seventh-round pick by the Broncos in the 2013 NFL draft. Coming out of Miami (OH), Dysert displayed a rocket arm and the scrambling ability to pick up yards with his feet. Dysert is an aggressive passer who is not afraid of throwing into tight windows. In college, Dysert often showed the ability to keep plays alive with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield.

When added by the Broncos, the thought was that Dysert would develop behind Manning and Osweiler with a possibility of one day pushing for the backup quarterback job. Over the last two years, Dysert has done just that. He made the final roster for the Broncos as a rookie, but last year he was cut and then re-signed to the team’s practice squad in order to continue his development.

In training camp last year, Dysert would make a few spectacular throws followed by several passes that were way off the mark. Just like in college, Dysert’s consistency as a passer continues to plague him. He can throw on the run, he can be aggressive from within the pocket, but he has yet to do both consistently when given a chance.

There’s a possibility that Dysert is just a bad practice player. In preseason games, Dysert does not look overwhelmed when on the field. Sure, he’s going against backups to backups, but it’s nice to see that he can handle himself in different situations.

Dysert’s development will be continued this season, but he needs to make strides forward with his consistency if he wants to be more than a clipboard-holding third-string quarterback.

Siemian was an interesting pick by the Broncos—even in the seventh round. During his college career at Northwestern, Siemian rarely impressed, struggled to stay healthy and failed to lock down the starting job. The Broncos did hold a private workout for Siemian before the draft, and they must have seen enough to decide using a draft pick was best—even though he could have been added as a priority free agent.

There’s not a ton to like about his game.

Siemian has to clean up his throwing motion, as he passes now with a three-quarters release and often lacks proper velocity in his throws. He’s athletic enough to move around in the pocket and keep his eyes downfield, but Siemian will often lock onto targets and hold his eyes (and the ball) until it’s too late. Siemian can pick up yards with his feet, but he needs to make better and quicker decisions as a passer at the pro level.

During four years at Northwestern (three as a starter), Siemian passed for as many yards (5,931) and touchdowns (27) as some college quarterbacks can match—or best—in a single season. He also tossed 24 interceptions during his career, a highlight of the poor decisions he regularly makes.

The Broncos are starting from ground zero with this quarterback—and oh yeah, he’s coming off an ACL tear he suffered last November. There’s a chance Siemian can begin practicing in June, but he’s still a question mark for the start of training camp.

The chance of Siemian ending up on season-ending injured reserve this year might be greater than him making the final roster as a rookie. We’ll know more once he’s able to compete in camp and the preseason, but based off college game tape, Siemian’s got a lot of work to do.

Summary

This season, the Broncos have little to worry about with Manning under center. He should be better protected by the offensive line and the design of the offense this year. Manning should be able to lead this team to the postseason once again, and there’s a good chance the Broncos will win the AFC West for the fifth year in a row.

The language of the NFL is money, and if Osweiler is extended, then it shows the team wants him to be the quarterback of the future. If no extension is reached, there’s a good chance that Osweiler leaves in free agency next year to get his chance to start elsewhere.

Both Dysert and Siemian have to be considered long shots to make any sort of impact at the pro level. There will never be another Tom Brady—even when a quarterback emerges from the late rounds—and neither one of these players look to be that good.

The Broncos are more than fine with Manning as the starter this year. Life after Manning could have some rough patches for the Broncos unless a clear-cut quarterback of the future emerges in the Mile High City.

All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted.

Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac. Transaction history provided by Pro Sports Transactions.