Peyton Manning to Broncos? Denver Searches for Multiple Options to Replace Tim Tebow

Most quarterbacks drafted in the first round are given a few years to develop.

If a young quarterback leads his team to a division title in his first year as a starter, his job is almost certainly safe for a few years.

That doesn't seem to be the case for Tim Tebow.

The star out of Florida did exactly that, but the Broncos have been actively looking at other quarterback options this offseason.

Tebow led Denver to a 7-3 regular season record when he took over as the team's starter. He even won a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it doesn't look like that was enough to satisfy the Broncos brass.

Once Peyton Manning was released, the Broncos were named as a potential suitor for the former Colt. Now, Peter King, of Sports Illustrated says Denver desperately wants to sign Manning.

Broncos radio commentator Brian Griese tells Pro Football Talk that the possibility of Manning going to Denver is very real.

The Broncos may want Manning, but that alone wouldn't spell the end for Tebow in Denver.

A dozen teams have reportedly expressed interest in bringing in the veteran. The 11 teams that don't sign Manning won't necessarily have to make a change at quarterback.

But Manning isn't the only quarterback that the Broncos are after. Denver may very well select one in the NFL Draft.

John Elway, executive vice president of the Broncos, had dinner with Brandon Weeden Thursday night, according to Oklahoma State beat writer Gina Mizell.

Weeden enters the draft this year after playing for Oklahoma State for the last four years. The quarterback is 28 years old, but expected to be drafted somewhere in the late first or second round.

Denver has the 25 th pick in the first two rounds of the draft, and could very well select Weeden. That doesn't mean Tebow wouldn't be the starter at the beginning of the season, but it certainly isn't a good sign for his job security.

Just when it appeared that Elway was finally supporting Tebow, Denver is looking to bring in multiple people who play his position.

It's understandable why the organization has concerns about Tebow. He had a 72.9 quarterback rating last season, and threw for just 1,729 yards in 14 total games.

Just because the Broncos want to sign Peyton Manning, it doesn't mean they don't think Tebow can be their quarterback of the future. Manning is one of the greatest NFL players of all time, and Denver is in a unique situation.

It's not about Tim Tebow, Griese said. This is not a situation where Tim Tebow would be cut or released or traded. He's got three years left on his contract. This is not a situation where the Broncos are giving up on Tim Tebow. I think this is more about trying to win a Super Bowl with a team that they have now and adding Peyton Manning, and where that puts them in relation to the rest of the league, and the opportunities they have.

But with the Broncos looking to draft a quarterback as well, Tebow's future in Denver looks a lot less stable than it did at the end of the season.