NFL Trade Rumors: Miami Dolphins Leading Teams Interested for Kyle Orton

Of the quarterbacks projected to be free agents or on the trading block this offseason, Kyle Orton offers the best combination of experience, potential and proven talent. With the team semi-committed to moving forward with Tim Tebow, Orton was immediately thrust into trade rumors given his production.

The Miami Dolphins are at the top of the list of interested teams, but have a few hurdles to overcome en route to acquiring Orton.

Orton has thrown for over 7,400 yards in his two seasons with Denver, to go along with 41 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Along with Kevin Kolb, Orton was supposed to garner a good deal of interest from teams in need of a quarterback, but that has not been the case.

Kolb was traded to Arizona, Matt Hasselbeck was signed by Tennessee and Tarvaris Jackson signed with Seattle, but Orton hasn't been talked about much.

Ben Volin of The Palm Beach Post's Daily Dolphin says the deal is being held up by two separate factors. First, the Broncos need to shed Orton's $8.8 million salary to get under the cap, but want a second-round pick in return which the Dolphins are unwilling to do. Second, Miami needs Orton to restructure his deal for cap purposes, but Orton wants more years and comparable money on his contract.

Orton practiced with the Broncos and outperformed both Tebow and Brady Quinn, providing the Broncos with more doubts about trading him.

The Broncos don't seem particularly motivated to move Orton because of the uncertainty surround Tebow's viability as a starting quarterback. Quinn hasn't been given an opportunity to grab the starting job, and will likely be relegated to second- or third-string regardless of who starts for Denver.

If Orton was to go to Miami, he would be reunited with former Broncos teammate in receiver Brandon Marshall.

In 2009, Marshall caught 101 passes for 1,120 yards and 10 of Orton's 21 touchdown passes. Orton would also have tight end Anthony Fasano to lean on in a pinch. The Dolphins recently added running back Reggie Bush, which gives the team a good pass-catching running back and return man. 

If Miami can get over the second-round pick the Broncos are asking, they would land the best quarterback they're going to see any time soon unless they tank the season for the prospect of drafting Andrew Luck.

If the Broncos really wanted Orton, they would have demanded a first-round pick instead of a second. They aren't positive he can be their franchise quarterback, but can't risk trading him if Tebow or Quinn can't hack it this season.

Negotiations are ongoing, but the deal is becoming more of a stare-down than an active process. It will come down to who blinks first, and it is unlikely that everyone will win in this situation.