NFL Rumors: Why the Tennessee Titans Need to Land Kyle Orton

There are a few teams in the NFL that are set to enter a season of transition following the end of the NFL lockout. There are various reasons for this but more often than not transition comes down to a changeover at either head coach or at quarterback.

Generally the changing of the guard at both positions at one time guarantees that said team will face a season focused on growth. A team like the Minnesota Vikings are a prime example of this.

Christian Ponder was drafted with the 12th overall pick in the most recent NFL draft, and even though Donovan McNabb looks set to move to Minneapolis, the team is essentially just waiting for Ponder to become the starter. Whether that be from game one or 100.

Leslie Frazier faces the tough task of rebuilding a very old defense while also being placed under the stress of being a first time head coach.

Unlike the Vikings however, the Tennessee Titans are not a team that is in the same predicament. The Titans may face the prospect of starting a new regime with Jake Locker at quarterback and Mike Munchak at head coach, but the team as a whole is more than ready to compete.

For this reason the team should look to acquire a veteran quarterback. There are also the added benefits of bringing in a veteran that would mentor Locker and allow him to refine his accuracy and develop into a player worthy of being a franchise quarterback in the future.

Kyle Orton would not be the perfect addition for the Tennessee Titans but he is the best option available to the team. Orton's positives vastly outweigh the very few negatives.

Orton does not have the long term potential of a Kevin Kolb but the Titans have their quarterback of the future in waiting so that should not be a factor. Realistically Locker could take up to three seasons to become a legitimate starter a la Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

Of the potential stop gaps to allow the team to prosper during that time Kyle Orton is the best available option. Unlike Carson Palmer he would not hold the Titans to a ransom to acquire and unlike the other veterans on the market—Donovan McNabb, Marc Bulger or Matt Hasselbeck—he could offer the team three years of quality play.

Orton is a very serviceable quarterback who can flourish with the right pieces around him. After being traded to the Broncos before the 2009 season, he threw for over 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns in both seasons since.

His touchdown to interception ratio has been a notch under 2:1 during that time while Brandon Lloyd broke out into an elite receiver when catching his passes last year.

There is only one knock on Orton. His arm strength has never been impressive. This is a big issue for the Titans who have deep threats on the offense in Nate Washington and Kenny Britt—presuming he's not in prison.

However the Titans offense will remain a run first unit so long as Chris Johnson is healthy while Orton's accuracy and composure in the pocket more than makes up for his lack of arm strength.

The Titans may have struggled last season on both sides of the football but poor quarterback play can permeate through the whole roster more than any other position. With better leadership and a consistent offense the defense would likely pick up despite not adding any major pieces outside of Akeem Ayers yet(obviously!).

The Titans may not be winning any Super Bowls over the next three years but if they are to remain a respectable team and protect Jake Locker from suffering the same fate as Vince Young then bringing in Kyle Orton is a great decision.

If the team prefers to put the franchises fortunes on the shoulders of an inexperienced 23-year-old with development issues and hope that fans can remain patient enough—and the players on his team—so as not to destroy his morale, then they should do that by all means.

However does that really sound like a good idea?

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