Miami Dolphins: How to Acquire Denver Broncos QB Kyle Orton

The Florida Sun-Sentinel's Mike Berardino has been running a poll for Dolphin fans to select which quarterback they would like the team to sign or acquire once the NFL lockout has been lifted. The winner with 39.4 percent of the vote is current Denver quarterback, Kyle Orton.

While other media outlets have run similar polls with different results, Orton (Over 7,400 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and just 21 interceptions in the last two years) is clearly one of the fans' top choices.

Plus, there are major obstacles with the other two leading "Dolfan" choices. Cincinnati has shown no inclination towards trading Carson Palmer, despite his threats of retirement. There would also seem to much better fits for his services if the Bengals do deal, including a West coast reunion with former college coach Pete Carroll in Seattle.

The Tennessee Titans' Vince Young has plenty of physical talent and is likely to be released, but he clearly has major character concerns and does not display the leadership qualities necessary of a quarterback in the NFL.

Which brings us back to Kyle Orton.

Denver appears interested in turning the quarterback reigns over to their 2010 first round draft pick, Tim Tebow, but the Broncos won't just give away a proven starter at football's most important position.

Miami is reportedly loathe to surrendering any more high draft picks and moving at least another second rounder to Denver in light of the Brandon Marshall trade seems unlikely.

Here is the solution.

Trade either Kendall Langford or Jared Odrick for Kyle Orton straight up.

Don't scoff. Denver will play a 4-3 defense under new head coach John Fox. The Broncos will play Elvis Dumervill at one end.

They don't have one other starting caliber defensive lineman and are counting on Dumervill returning to full strength after missing 2010 with a torn chest muscle. The Broncos were dead last in defense last year and they surprisingly neglected the defensive line in this year's draft.

The one unit where Miami has undeniable depth is on the defensive line. Miami tagged Paul Soliai as its franchise player—he is a cornerstone to their 3-4 scheme and wouldn't fit in Denver's 4-3. Randy Starks didn't have a great 2010 after his Pro Bowl 2009 season, but I think you have to keep the end who provides your best pass rush and pocket push and that's Starks.

Langford is scheduled to be a free agent in 2012, and his primary value is in stopping the run. The Broncos gave up a ridiculous 154.6 yards per game on the ground in 2010.

Giving up on a player that has barely seen the field yet in Odrick (missed almost all of the 2010 season with a leg injury) would be a tough pill for Miami to swallow, but if Denver was sold on Odrick's talent and versatility to play end or nose tackle and not Langford would the Dolphins really let it hold up the deal? Miami has Philip Merling as a reliable back-up and could always try to re-sign free agent Tony McDaniel.

Mind you, the point of this article is not to campaign for Orton in Miami, just to provide a reasonable way of acquiring him.

But, the argument to pick up Orton does have merit, and Dolphin fans seem to be on target with this one. Orton has a reputation as a leader, with solid character, and good ability. Its also hard to argue that the Dolphins don't need to at least provide competition for Chad Henne and bringing in Orton does that. 

Besides Miami has decent track record with smart signal callers from Purdue.

See Griese, Bob.