



Denver Post sports writer Mike Klis posts his Broncos Mailbag monthly during the offseason.



Pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag.



Do you think Brock Osweiler is the future QB of the Denver Broncos? And if so, have the Broncos built an offense around him as well?



— Jeremy R., Florida



Jeremy – Peyton Manning is the Broncos’ quarterback of the future. Seriously. Manning may be 38 years old, but he has three years left on his contract. Osweiler may be only 23, but he only has two years left on his contract.



Osweiler will depart for free agency before Manning does.



For Osweiler to become the Broncos’ quarterback, something significant has to happen to Manning whether it be injury, diminished performance or retirement.



Let’s say Manning suffers a bruised shoulder and can’t play for three weeks. The Broncos would not change their playbook. I would think they would slow it down between plays. Huddle up more. But with the exception of perhaps the Minnesota Vikings with Adrian Peterson, every NFL offense relies on the quarterback to pass the ball, first. Run second.



Manning averaged 41 pass attempts a game last season. Osweiler might average 31 pass attempts. But the Broncos would still be a three-receiver system offense.



It feels like the Broncos are letting some important role players who were meaningful contributors to last year’s success leave without much thought … see Moreno, Knowshon; Phillips, Shaun; Woodyard, Wesley. Shouldn’t we be worried?



— Ryan, Philadelphia



Ryan – Sure, there’s reason to worry. I also don’t think the Broncos’ offense will be quite as strong without Decker, Eric.



The Broncos replaced Decker as their No. 2 receiver with Emmanuel Sanders. We’ll see. They replaced Moreno at tailback by promoting Montee Ball and C.J. Anderson. We’ll see.



They replaced Phillips with DeMarcus Ware. Not much uncertainty here. So long as Ware is healthy, he is a superior player to Phillips, who nevertheless had a fine 2013 season.



The Broncos have yet to replace Woodyard or Paris Lenon at middle linebacker. Nate Irving and Steven Johnson will get the first chance. Something tells me the Broncos will take a middle linebacker within the first three rounds.



Ben Garland, a defensive lineman by trade who hasn’t played in a meaningful football game that counts since 2009, may replace Zane Beadles at left guard.



The Broncos will not be the same team in 2014 as they were in 2013.



But what the Broncos did this offseason is a sad reality of the NFL’s free agency/cap era. The Broncos have spent all but about $5.5 million of their cap/cash budget. And they have to spend another $5.9 million in cash, $4.4 million in cap space, for their seven draft picks.



In other words, the Broncos are capped out — and they still had to say goodbye to 14 of their 16 free-agent players in order to add Ware, Sanders, Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward and Will Montgomery.



The transient nature is a bummer to fans who get attached to players. Then again it also should give fans in every market a reason to hope their team can quickly reload into a winner. At least in theory.



Fans in Detroit, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Oakland and Buffalo may dispute the theory.



Mike – In my opinion, Denver’s defense has never had a rock in the middle since Al Wilson last played. Is there a chance Chris Borland from Wisconsin can be a three-down linebacker and fill that spot? If so, he could be our guy at No. 31.



— Nate, Divide County, N.D.



Nate – Mike Mayock of the NFL Network loves Borland. But the Badger tackling machine ran a disappointing 4.83 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and posted a 4.84 at his pro day.



That means scouts will deem Borland not fast enough to be a three-down middle linebacker. He’d be a nice pick, though, if he’s still available when the Broncos select at No. 63 in the second round, or No. 95 in the third.



The Broncos will hope against hope that Alabama’s C.J. Mosley will fall to No. 31. At 234 pounds, he may be more of a weakside linebacker, but the Broncos can always put him on the Bryan Snyder nutrition program.



Don’t be surprised if Matt Russell finds a surprise middle linebacker gem in the second or third rounds. The Broncos’ director of player personnel, Russell knows “mike” linebackers. He was a good one at the University of Colorado back in the day.



Mike – What can fans do to help Randy Gradishar get to the Hall of Fame? Do you think there’s a bias against him due to his faith? Next to John Elway and Peyton Manning, I think Randy was the best player to have played for the Broncos. He also had that ability to take over a game.



— G Zellers, Sterling



G – Faith? No. I believe there are many Christians whose busts are bronzed in Canton.



As a modern-era candidate, Gradishar twice made it to the final 15 candidates — in 2003 and 2008. His eligibility was used up there and is now in the senior-candidate pool.



There are nine veterans members of the senior committee. They nominate two senior candidates each year. Those two senior candidates are usually elected.



As a two-time, modern-era finalist, Gradishar is on the senior committee’s short list. Some short lists are longer than others, though. I thought for sure Gradishar would have been nominated by the senior committee this year. It didn’t happen. Wait ’til next year.



What is the entry-level college or pro coaching position? I’ve heard of graduate assistants, but those are usually reserved for former players. What path do people like Josh McDaniels or David Cutcliffe take to become coaches without playing organized football?



— Leo Duke, Philadelphia



For college, Leo, the entry-level position is graduate assistant. McDaniels and Adam Gase, among others, were once grad assistants for Nick Saban at Michigan State. How about that?



Gase followed Saban to LSU in 2000. McDaniels became a New England Patriots personnel assistant in 2001.



The entry-level NFL coaching position is offensive or defensive quality control. They cut up a lot of tape, write up a lot of reports and fetch a lot of strong coffee.



Now that running back Chris Johnson is a free agent, how much interest does Elway & Co. have in pursuing him? I hear Denver very often mentioned as a highly suitable landing spot by others. But so far as I’ve gathered, there’s been nothing forthcoming from the actual organization. Your thoughts?



— Armando Cuesta, Chicago



Armando – If he’d be willing to accept a change-of-pace speed back role, Johnson would be a great addition. But even he’s no longer a 2,000-yard back, I can’t see Johnson accepting a No. 2 role.



And as I stated earlier, the Broncos also don’t have the financial wherewithal to satisfy Johnson. It seems to me Johnson and Darrelle Revis are the two highest-profile NFL players whose contracts are always an issue.



Mike – I think it is time for Broncos owner Pat Bowlen to be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. What is the criteria needed for an owner to be considered for the Hall?



— Art Shields, Torrington, Wyo.



Art – Bowlen would be classified as a “contributor” candidate. There are no retirement requirements for contributors. The late Lamar Hunt, Al Davis and Ralph Wilson were owners who were inducted into the Hall of Fame while still active.



Most Hall of Fame owners, though, were either co-founders of the NFL or AFL, or in Davis’ case, a former AFL commissioner.



The Hall of Fame owner most comparable to Bowlen is Pittsburgh’s Dan Rooney, who was elected in 2000. I do think the Broncos’ six Super Bowl appearances, two world championships and 307 wins in 30 years make Bowlen a serious Hall of Fame candidate.



To me, the most astonishing aspect to Bowlen’s legacy is the Broncos have only had five losing seasons in his 30 years.



I do wish the Hall of Fame would separate “contributor” and coaching candidates from the players on the modern-era ballot. I didn’t like that Bill Parcells got in at the expense of Michael Strahan in 2013.



Currently there is a maximum of seven new Hall of Fame members who can be elected each year — two senior candidates and five modern-era players, coaches or contributors. I say increase the max to eight new members — two seniors, five modern-era players and one coach-contributor.



The well of worthy Hall of Fame candidates would never dry up.

Pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag. Listen to Mike Klis on “Klis’ Korner” on Monday-Friday at 102.3 FM ESPN.