With all that’s gone on in Broncos country over the last few days, I think it’s time we take a break from the present and look towards the future. Mainly, who’s going to be starting under center Week 1 next season?

Now, this does not mean that I’m already looking past the Broncos’ 2015 campaign; Denver is 7-2, they’ll be in the playoffs and I still have every hope that they can muster together one last Super Bowl run. What this is is simply an exercise of curiosity. And if you try to tell me that the question of who will be manning (no pun intended) the Broncos offense next season hasn’t crossed your mind, I’m going to go ahead and call you a liar.

And honestly, the more you look at it, the more interesting it gets.

So here are five quarterbacks that could realistically start for the Broncos next season:

Bonus: Peyton Manning

start for the Broncos

I’m not throwing dirt on the old guy just yet.

Technically, Manning is still under contract for next season, which means that unless he retires on his own accord, the Broncos will have to cut him; that won’t be easy.

And let’s just say all of Manning’s issues are injury related, and that he does come back in a few weeks and looks like the old Manning as the Broncos head into the playoffs. Can you tell me that the Broncos and their fans won’t feel some obligation to roll out The Sheriff one more time?

I, for one, am not counting it out.