9:15 a.m. ET: The Denver Broncos have some work to do.

The defending Super Bowl champions knew they were going to be up against it entering NFL free agency, and when the league opened for business Wednesday, Denver was hit hard. Several key members of the Broncos' vaunted defense bolted, but the biggest name to leave the Mile High City was Brock Osweiler.

The relatively unproven quarterback took full advantage of hitting free agency at the perfect time, agreeing to a four-year, reported $72 million contract with the Houston Texans. That comes just days after Peyton Manning retired. So now, the Broncos have a hole at the most important position in the sport.

Denver could start its hunt for a new QB in earnest Thursday as free agency rolls along. There are still free-agent options like Ryan Fitzpatrick and Robert Griffin III available, and the Broncos could ultimately look to the trade market to find their new signal-caller.

We'll be all over the latest news and rumors from the Broncos and the rest of the league as the day goes on, so be sure to check back here often for all of the latest from the second official day of the NFL season.

Thumbnail photo via Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports Images