ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The countdown to this year’s NFL draft is in the final days with the Denver Broncos poised to use 10 picks to sculpt their 2015 draft class, whether that means packaging some of those picks for a trade or simply picking the 10 players they believe can pump up their roster.

So, with the bulk of their work in free agency done, this is the first of a position-by-position look at where things stand on the roster and what draft prospects could be a fit.

Today: Quarterbacks.

Tuesday: Running backs.

At the moment: Peyton Manning’s back for another season -- he took a $4 million pay cut for ’15 and has another year left on his contract -- and his backup, Brock Osweiler, is in the last year of his original contract as he continues to wait to play. Zac Dysert is, before the Broncos make a pick in the draft, the team’s No. 3.

Need factor: While there are always those short-sighted souls who will say quarterback is unquestionably the most important position on the field and yet still grumble when the team selects one in the draft despite the presence of an established starter, the simple fact remains quarterback is always and forever a need position.

Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway has selected quarterbacks in two of the four previous drafts he has overseen for the team. He is decidedly in the Ron Wolf school of the draft, which is to say Elway will believe in the idea of taking a quarterback in any and all drafts if the right passer(s) present themselves along the way.

It was one of Wolf's draft trademarks in a Hall of Fame career as an executive, but with the Green Bay Packers Wolf had Brett Favre at quarterback and still used at least a second-day pick (a two-day draft at that time) on a quarterback seven times in an eight-year span.

Manning is 39 and has repeatedly, and very publicly, said he’s on a "year-to-year" approach. Osweiler is a prospect the Broncos believe is on the right track to potentially be their starter in the post-Manning era, but his deal is up after this season and the Broncos face a decision on him with -- so far -- just 30 regular-season pass attempts in his three previous seasons combined.

Names to keep handy: Gary Kubiak’s offense, in what it is expected to be in the post-Manning era, will need a plus arm on a player who can move when he has to. That said, the guy has to be able to do what the Broncos do now, which will be throw largely from the pocket, with heavy play-action, working under center, out of the pistol and the shotgun.

Looking beyond the opening tier at quarterback on this draft board, it’s good to remember Elway likes the big guys, so certainly Oregon State’s Sean Mannion (6-foot-5 5/8, 229 pounds) gets a look as does South Alabama’s Brandon Bridge (6-4 3/8, 229).

Mannion’s turnover rate, especially fumbles, is a big concern as was his lackluster Senior Bowl week. But he is a four-year starter and the kind of thrower who would have a chance for success in an offense that can run the ball with some consistency. Bridge needs some work on his mechanics -- he did not complete more than 52.1 percent of his passes in any college season, either at Alcon State or South Alabama -- but has flashed an NFL-worthy arm with mobility and has plenty of room to grow on his developmental curve.

Duke’s Anthony Boone is just 6-0 ¼, 231 pounds and whose arm strength is middle-of-the-pack, but he’s a take-charge, two-time team captain, who has impressed evaluators with his handle on the game and ability to digest information. He throws with anticipation and moves defenders with his eyes.

And then there is Colorado State-Pueblo’s Chris Bonner. Bonner has shown high-quality footwork in an offense that has asked him to work out of a variety of dropbacks.

He’s 6-6 ¼, 231 pounds and threw for 3,291 yards in 15 games this past season for a team that also featured a 2.000-yard rusher in Cameron McDondle. The ThunderWolves ran the ball at least 30 times in 13 games this past season, topped 40 rushing attempts in six games and had 59 rushing attempts in one.

As a result, Bonner attempted more than 35 passes in just two games all season. There’s plenty of potential there in a player the Broncos have seen plenty of.