The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team in NFL history to go undefeated while winning a Super Bowl and even their record pales in comparison to Father Time.
Father Time is the one constant in football; he has an undefeated record against every opponent he has ever faced. Soon, he will go up against Peyton Manning, 39, and when that happens, the Denver Broncos hope to be ready. The team has Brock Osweiler penciled in as the No. 2 quarterback on the roster at the moment but that could change on draft day.
Will John Elway select Manning's eventual replacement this year?
"It depends on how much they like Osweiler," ESPN Monday Night Football commentator Jon Gruden said. "None of us really know because he hasn't played much except for some mop-up duty late in games. So I think it all depends on how much they like the progress they have seen with Brock Osweiler."
Denver won't pick until No. 28 overall, which means Manning's heir apparent isn't coming in the first-round. Instead, the team has been linked to Florida State offensive lineman Cameron Erving at that spot. The Broncos have question marks at tackle, center and left guard and Erving has the versatility to play all three positions.
But Day 2 of the draft is an entirely different story.
"But it's a quarterback who would move the needle on the Broncos' draft," Mike Klis of 9News wrote. "It's a virtual certainty the broncos will take on with one of their 10 draft picks. In fact, they must. Peyton Manning is 39 years old and he's returning to play for his 18th season, fourth with the Broncos, only after giving retirement some consideration."
Osweiler, a former second-round pick, is entering the final year of his contract and, as Gruden noted, is a bit of a question mark at this point.
"I liked him coming out of Arizona State," Gruden said. "He's a big guy, he's got some athleticism, he should know the offense by now...only they know how much they like Brock Osweiler. And if they don't see him as the future quarterback of the Broncos, I'm sure they will try to acquire someone that fits this offense for Gary Kubiak."
For the sake of argument, let's assume that the Broncos aren't 100 percent sold on Osweilier and are looking to draft an arm to develop. Who would merit the team's consideration?
"looking beyond the opening tier at quarterback on this draft board, I's good to remember Elway likes the big guys, so certainly Oregon State's Sean Mannion (6-foot-5 5/8, 229 pounds) gets a look as does South Alabama's Brandon Bridge (6-3 3/8, 229)," ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legworld wrote.
The NFL Draft kicks off this Thursday.
