2011 NFL Draft: Does Presence of Tim Tebow Dictate Denver's Draft Moves?

Are the Denver Broncos looking for a franchise quarterback in this year’s draft?

That depends on what they believe they already have on their roster, and if John Elway’s comments on KKFN 104.3 in Denver are any indication, that isn’t much.

“Right now, we might not have a franchise quarterback on our roster” said Elway when asked about the team spending a lot of time with Cam Newton leading up to the draft.

 Tim Tebow fans everywhere were aghast at such a comment, but to be quite honest, the statement is true. After one year with Tebow on the roster there still isn’t enough evidence to support a “franchise” title.

 Don’t crucify me just yet for such blasphemy because I am not saying that it isn’t ever possible, but for now we all need to face facts like John Elway and accept the truth as it stands now.

 Neither Kyle Orton, nor Tim Tebow is a franchise quarterback going into 2011.

 So how does that realization about Tim Tebow affect the Broncos draft strategy?

 Probably not as much as one might think. Accepting that statement as truth does nothing to make Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert any more impressive as draft picks. It also doesn’t mean that the needs on defense are any less real or less deserving of being addressed with the second pick.

 Therefore, as far as the Broncos are concerned, Tim Tebow has no effect on the first round of the NFL draft for the Broncos. Even if a collective bargaining agreement was in place and current players could be traded he still would not because there is no market for his services.

 If Orton, on the other hand, were able to be moved on draft day he could have a very large impact on the draft strategy of the Broncos as a means of securing more picks. However, unless a miracle deal is struck prior to April 27 then that possibility is null and void.

 The only scenario where Broncos fans might have some insight as to the true feelings of the organization about Tebow would play out in the second round. There is a strong possibility that names such as Ryan Mallett, Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick will still be on the board when the Broncos prepare to make that pick.

There are rumors that the Broncos would love to move down from No. 2 in an effort to secure extremely valuable second and third round picks thereby allowing themselves to make solid choices to bolster the defense but still have an opportunity to join the arms race and nab one of the signal callers listed above.

I believe that choosing one of those quarterbacks means that Tim Tebow did have an impact on this draft because that would seem to be a clear message that Elway is still far from sold. A choice like that would solidify the statement made by John Fox that Kyle Orton is the starter and Tim Tebow would now be fighting for the back up role with either Mallett, Dalton or Kaepernick.

If the second round comes and goes and there is not another QB on the roster, then the status quo remains unchanged. Orton is the starter until he either gets shipped out or dethroned by Tebow.