Brock Osweiler Would be Mad to Turn Down Broncos’ Latest Offer

The worst kept secret in the NFL is finally out: Peyton Manning is retiring. The Broncos’ ageing quarterback limped his way to an improbable final Super Bowl win on the back of an elite defense and cameo appearance from backup QB Brock Osweiler.

But with Peyton gone, Denver has already turned its attention towards the future, reportedly offering Osweiler a three-year deal north of $45 million. While it remains to be seen how much of that contract is guaranteed money, Osweiler could be doing much worse than earning top-tier money on a very competitive team next season.

Should Osweiler refuse this deal, it’s hard to imagine how much more he could realistically expect other suitors to offer him. Osweiler had seven starts in 2015, taking the starting job from Manning per a combination of Peyton’s injuries, age and awful production.

And while Osweiler was nowhere near the turnover machine Manning was to open the season, he didn’t exactly help the offense flourish, either. For several weeks, Denver simply traded interceptions for three-and-outs. Optimistic fans keen to see what Brock could do after three years of Manning’s mentorship were not blown away by his 10-TD, 6-INT showing, but had to admit that he held down the fort well enough to get Denver through a tough mid-season stretch.

Other teams desperate for a quarterback, including Cleveland, Houston and the New York Jets, would be tentative to offer Osweiler either a longer or more profitable deal than he has already received from John Elway and company.

And even if they did, another question surfaces. Would Brock rather spend the next three years in an offense he already knows, surrounded by a stable coaching staff and patient front office, or carry the Browns’ load on his back, unsure of what – if any – commitment the front office would have to its big money investment one or two years down the line?

Frankly, a three-year offer isn’t exactly the most glowing endorsement of a prospective franchise quarterback, but it’s not a bad return on investment for only half a season of game time.

The move is yet another indication of how valuable a commodity even an average signal caller is in today’s NFL. The deal is less of a “we love everything about you” commitment, and more of a “you’re the best option we have right now.” And that is by no means a bad thing.