Denver Broncos QB Controversy: Will Brady Quinn Move Up Depth Chart, Join Fray?

As of the current moment, the depth chart for the QB position looks like this:

1. Kyle Orton

2. Tim Tebow

3. Brady Quinn

In the midst of the QB controversy that has been centered on Orton and Tebow, Quinn has been lost in the shuffle.

During the lockout, John Fox stated that the QB competition was open between all three quarterbacks, including Quinn.

In the first preseason game vs. the Cowboys, Orton had one drive to lead the offense down the field and led them successfully to a field goal. Tebow had a pretty accurate night, leading the offense to two field goals on four drives.

Obviously, with all things considered, the QB—and maybe even the player—that shined the most for the Broncos was Brady Quinn.

Yes, Quinn did face mostly backup defensive players in contrast to the starters that Orton and Tebow were playing against.

Yes, Quinn won't automatically move up the depth chart with one good performance in one preseason game.

But there's no doubt Quinn looked solid when he played the entire second half, going 8-for-14 for 120 yards and a TD with no INTs, all while leading Denver to two drives that ended in touchdowns.

Now the question begs, knowing that it's an open QB competition, will Quinn move up the depth chart?

Quinn is the obvious underdog and dark horse out of the three, but he does have prior starting experience in limited segments during his three-year tenure for the Browns, so it's not like he's "green."

Quinn experienced constant turnover with personnel in Cleveland between the coaches and the players, never experiencing a "fair" and "stable" opportunity when it came to proving his worth as a first-round draft pick.

So it's not far-fetched to say that Quinn still has time to prove his status in the NFL now that he entering his fifth season, and being only 26 years of age.

Will that opportunity come with Denver? Quinn would first have to leap Tebow for second on the depth chart and then somehow leap Orton for the starting job. Leaping Tebow is achievable; leaping Orton would be a bit harder.

Knowing that Orton makes about $9 million a year this year, if Denver were to get off to another losing start, and a team like Miami starts playing well, but are in desperate need of a QB to fill in one of their few weaknesses with a proven veteran QB who has started in the NFL for four years, it wouldn't shock anybody to see Denver ship Orton and get the draft pick that they desired a few weeks ago when they were shopping Orton.

So the question is, knowing Denver's situation, is it plausible for Brady Quinn to end up the starting QB for the Denver Broncos at some point this season? Would you feel comfortable with Brady Quinn leading the starting offense?