John Elway defends Broncos' drafting of Brock Osweiler

Brock Osweiler (6) threw four passes in mop-up duty for Peyton Manning last season. (US Presswire)

Safe to say Denver won't be drafting a quarterback this year.

The Broncos followed their Peyton Manning coup by drafting quarterback Brock Osweiler in the second round. That left many wondering: Why use the 57th overall pick on someone to watch Manning take every meaningful snap?

John Elway explained his thinking to the Denver Post.

"I know I said after we signed Peyton that we didn't have a plan B, but there was a plan B in Brock," said Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president for football operations. "No. 1, we didn't have a backup and No. 2, it wasn't exactly a sure thing with Peyton coming back.

"My thought was, we wanted a guy for the future, No. 1. No. 2, if it didn't work out with Peyton, we could load up with a guy that we liked and who could be the guy for the next 10, 12 years. And No. 3, if Peyton did come back and play like he did, then Brock could get a great education of how things were supposed to be done as a quarterback, what you had to go through, to see one of the best of all time do it.

"To me it was a perfect scenario," Elway said. "With the importance of that position, you never waste one. Plus, we liked him a lot. And having been with him a year, we like him even more."

Osweiler (6-foot-8, 240 pounds) threw four passes in mop-up duty, completing two. Coach John Fox said he saw enough from Osweiler to believe he's Denver's quarterback of the future.

"Brock didn't get as many game situations. I think that's a positive thing [that he wasn't needed],” Fox told the Post. "What he did, I thought he did well. You get evaluated by what you do [on game days]. But I like his temperament. I feel real positive about Brock Osweiler."

Osweiler, who turned 22 in November, was a full-time starter at Arizona State for one season. He completed 63.2 percent of his throws for 4,036 yards and 26 touchdowns with 13 interceptions in 2011.

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