NFL Trade Rumors: Broncos Better Off Keeping Brandon Lloyd, Trading Kyle Orton

The Denver Broncos are shaping up to be the biggest, if not the only, sellers on a quiet NFL trade market before Tuesday's deadline, though they'd be wise to make sure that whatever they do is geared toward setting up Tim Tebow to succeed.

That may not be the case if, indeed, the Broncos are shopping wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and hanging onto quarterback Kyle Orton. The team is reportedly in talks with the Carolina Panthers and the Tennessee Titans about trading Lloyd for a third- to fifth-round draft pick.

Dumping Lloyd makes some sense from an organizational standpoint. It would allow the Broncos to get something for their Pro Bowler, who will be a free agent after the season, while opening up opportunities for Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal to play when they return from their respective injuries.

The only issue, of course, is that Lloyd is arguably the Broncos' most talented wide receiver and is just the sort of experienced, athletic playmaker with which the team should surround Tebow.

Meanwhile, Orton seems likely to stay put, not because the Broncos necessarily want to keep him, but rather because nobody else wants to pick him up. Orton's value has plummeted since the preseason, when Denver and Miami were busy playing phone footsie but failed to strike a deal in the end. Chad Henne's season-ending shoulder injury would seem to put the Dolphins back in the conversation.

Then again, they already have a mediocre starter in Matt Moore and probably don't want or need to take on the hefty salary of another one, especially when they're likely to spend the rest of the season in the "Suck For Luck" race to address their quarterbacking needs for the foreseeable future.

That would leave Orton stewing on the pine in the Mile High City, thereby putting pressure on Tebow if the youngster falters—not exactly a recipe for success. Denver needs to cut ties with Orton as soon as possible, lest John Fox allow his locker room to devolve into disharmony.

Even if it means giving Orton up for just a late-round draft pick.

Thus, if the Broncos are truly keen to see what Tebow is capable of as a quarterback in the NFL, they would be well-advised to keep Lloyd as a security blanket and drop Orton, somehow, someway, to keep Tebow's mind clear of competition for his spot.