Miami Dolphins: 4 Options at Quarterback If the Kyle Orton Trade Falls Through

Kyle Orton was supposed to a member of the Miami Dolphins by now. 

Yesterday, rumors of a potential deal between the Broncos and Dolphins were rampant, and it appeared as though the two sides would strike a deal.

Instead, Orton was taking reps with Denver's first team offense this afternoon. 

And ESPN's John Clayton provided an explanation via Twitter on Thursday afternoon saying, "The Orton trade won't happen until the Broncos get a better trade offer. That could still happen but they will keep him for now."

Clayton's tweet does not suggest that a trade will not happen but rather emphasizes the complications currently plaguing negotiations.

So, if the Dolphins fail to acquire Orton, who will they turn to? Here are four possibilities. 

Chad Henne

By now, you're all well versed on Henne's struggles. He slacked statistically, emotionally and mechanically last season, and it is his failures that have led Miami on a wild goose chase for a new quarterback.

But consider a few things before you totally dismiss Henne.

First of all, he enjoyed a pretty solid campaign in 2009, posting a 7-6 record as the team's starter. Isn't it possible Henne just hit the sophomore wall?

Secondly, the Dolphins have lured in a new offensive coordinator, bolstered their offensive line and added explosive athletes to an offense that looks significantly better than its 2010 counterpart.

Finally, had Dan Carpenter not missed a combined five field goals in Miami's losses to the Bills and Browns, we might not be having this discussion now. 

Henne is definitely a less than desirable option, but keeping him at helm might be favorable to signing a washed up veteran who will be forced to learn an entirely new playbook in a matter of weeks. 

Vince Young

The Tennessee Titans officially released Vince Young earlier today, cementing what everybody knew would happen months ago.

Young is easily the second most appealing quarterback on the market behind Orton, but that does not mean the Dolphins should invest in him as a starter.  

A legendary collegiate career coupled with two mildly successful seasons in the NFL has created a cloud of undeserved hype around him. Although he does boast a 30-13 record as a starter, Young has compiled an extremely unimpressive stat line and has continually struggled with off-the-field issues.

In his only two full seasons as a starter (2006, 2007), Young threw more interceptions than touchdowns. 

And over the past five years alone, Young has reportedly contemplated suicide and retirement, was involved in an ugly strip club brawl and publicly blasted Jeff Fisher, forcing Tennessee's longtime head coach out of town.

Young is a great athlete and a truly unique quarterback, but for a player with so many issues and such unimpressive numbers, he might not be worth the risk. 

Marc Bulger

Even though Marc Bulger spent the entire 2010 season warming the bench for Joe Flacco, his name has been tossed around as a potential short-term cure for teams with quarterback woes, such as the Dolphins.

However, Bulger is a much bigger risk than meets the eye. His last great year was way back in 2006. Since then, he has compiled a 5-30 record as a starter, throwing 28 interceptions and posting a measly 70.4 quarterback.

Much of that can be blamed on lackluster St. Louis Rams teams, but it still makes you wonder if Bulger has anything left in the tank. 

From an optimistic standpoint, he is a proven quarterback, who could, at the very least, provide some stability to Miami's quarterback rotation and possibly keep the team competitive.

Matt Moore

In May, a report surfaced linking Matt Moore to the Miami Dolphins. This rumor caused a bit of a stir, mainly because it suggested that Miami was only prepared to lure in competition for Henne, not asubstantial upgrade and replacement.

Moore's best and only notable season came in 2009 when he led the Carolina Panthers to an 4-1 record in 5 starts. He threw eight touchdowns and only two interceptions, showing the kind of game management that Miami is so fond of.

In 2010 however, Moore posted a dismal 1-4 record through the first five weeks of the year and was benched for the remainder of the season following Week 5.

But Carolina was eager to usher in Jimmy Clausen and surrounded Moore with an awful supporting cast.  

Since that report floated around the web in late May and early June, we have not heard a peep about Moore. But now that the team's options are dwindling further and further, he could resurface as a candidate.

Based on his performance in 2009, Moore might actually make for a rather enticing option. 

But let's hope we have Kyle Orton donning a Dolphins jersey in September, not Moore.