Adam

Weber

This was Denver’s practice squad to finish the 2011 season. Weber will open the spring as Tim Tebow’s direct backup, though the Broncos will surely add one or two players to the position. Beal was an incredibly productive pass rusher at Oklahoma, but went undrafted last April due to measurable concerns.

Weber went undrafted out of Minnesota after setting the Gophers’ all-time records for passing yards and touchdown passes as a four-year starter. We’ve never put a ton of stock in quarterback wins and losses, but Weber was 17-33 in college. The Broncos are high on him as a potential long-term No. 2 quarterback.

It’s worth noting because Adam Weber closed out minicamp ahead of Hanie in the beat writers’ eyes. With Brock Osweiler locked into the developmental role, Hanie and Weber are battling for one roster spot.

Weber lost out to Caleb Hanie for No. 3 duties behind Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler. Thompson was trying to come back from a torn Achilles’ tendon.

It’s perhaps the team’s biggest offseason surprise, though it shouldn’t be. Weber has a year in Mike McCoy’s offense while Caleb Hanie failed utterly down the stretch in Chicago. Rookie Brock Osweiler was widely viewed as a long-term project entering the draft. Weber doesn’t exactly have a vice grip on the job entering camp, however.

Weber closed out Broncos’ minicamp as Peyton Manning’s back-up last summer, but quickly tumbled down the depth chart. Dunsmore was a seventh-round pick of the Bucs last April, but was cut loose after making just two catches for nine yards during the preseason.

The writing was on the wall for Weber when he didn’t get a single snap in either of Tampa Bay’s last two preseason games. A heady but weak-armed quarterback prospect, Weber is a former UDFA out of Minnesota.

“If everything was totally equal, and this were a competition based only on performance at this camp, Tebow would probably be the fourth-string guy,” one source said. “Kyle [Orton] is far and away the best, and Tebow’s way behind [Brady] Quinn, too. And I’m telling you, Adam Weber is flat-out better right now.” Added another Broncos exec, “Forget about how [Tebow] delivers the ball, or how accurate it is. First he has to know where to go with it.” Team officials are now relieved that the Dolphins opted against meeting Denver’s third-round asking price on Orton. Tebow was always expected to be a developmental project, but this year’s camp has been a blow to his long-term outlook.