2012 Denver Broncos: Who Will Be Under Center (and Under the Microscope)?

Considering that we are only seven games into the 2011 season, but with a 2-5 record and the controversy swirling around, I thought it would be fun to take a look at next year.

It can't be as bad as this year, can it?

We have had two starting QBs so far this year, and neither one has earned a glowing support of the coaches or the management of the team. Can that change over the next nine games? Who knows?

And we only have one QB under contract next season (Tebow), so no matter what transpires, there will be changes in the QB depth chart, no matter what happens the rest of this year.

So let's look ahead, shall we?

Current Roster: Kyle Orton

6'4", 225 pounds

After the past two games, we might see this sign displayed again in the next few weeks.

But the truth is, Orton wants out of Denver more than the Tebow fans want him gone.

Along with his contract and the way he was treated here, I see very little chance of his wearing the predominantly orange and blue next season. 

He will end up with a better team than Denver but maybe not as a starter.

Current Roster: Brady Quinn

6' 3", 235 pounds

Brady Quinn, in the last year of his contract, is an interesting idea. He isn't costing the team much and could be re-signed for the same or similar contract as a backup—one that knows the playbook and would bring some stability to the position.

But he hasn't shown the ability to truly compete for the starting job, so will the Bronco brain trust decide to keep him? He seems to have a good attitude, but if another team offers him any better chance to compete for the starters role, I am sure he would take it.

He wore Orange in Cleveland and here in Denver, will he still be wearing it next year?

Current Roster: Adam Weber

6' 3", 221 pounds

An undrafted free agent out of Minnesota this year, he was cut before the regular season but was brought back to the practice squad. He must have shown the coaches and Elway enough to want to keep him around.

He was a winner in college, holding the Minnesota all-time yardage (10,917) and TD (72) records. He was a teammate of WR Eric Decker and a lot of those yards and TDs were tossed his way.

At 6' 3" and 221 pounds, he has the size and the intelligence to develop into a very good QB. Maybe not unlike the story of the early days of a Tom Brady? 

Current Roster: Tim Tebow

6' 3", 235 pounds

Current starting QB, under contract for a few more years. 

He has the size and the desire and the college pedigree. And he was a third-round draft pick taken in the first round by the departed Josh McDaniels, who seemed to have had a man-crush on Timmie. 

But along with his intangibles, there are some very tangible baggage he is dragging around, like poor footwork, poor reads, poor mechanics, accuracy, etc.

And if he doesn't start to show some improvement over his last two starts, he will not only lose his starting position but also the support of the team.

He was hurt more than anyone by the lockout and lack of an offseason to work with the new coaches and improve on his deficiencies.

Can he show enough to preclude the Bronco management and coaches from investing yet another high-draft choice next year on a QB?

That is the $6.3 million question! 

Future Possibilities: Andrew Luck, Stanford

6' 4", 235 pounds

I'm sorry, just had to put this one in here under the orders of EVP of Football Operations John Elway.

I think we all know that Mr. Elway would trade his multiple cars and restaurants plus a few body parts for this young man—the best player to come from his alma mater (Stanford) since he did way back in 1983.

And it would be worth the trade for the Broncos. I see this as a long shot, a VERY long shot. But then, that was what was said before Mr. Elway ended up here.

We can always keep hope alive, right John?

Future Possibilities: Landry Jones, Oklahoma

6' 4", 230 pounds

Jones has the stats, the arm strength and the smarts to step into a starting role just like his predecessor at Oklahoma, Sam Bradford.

Will he be available with the right kind of trade for the Broncos to get him?

I think that would be a wishful thought on all our parts. Does anyone else see the Miami Dolphins in his future? 

Future Possibilities: Matt Barkley, USC

6' 2", 220 pounds

For those of you that have been around the Broncos for any length of time, will look at this picture and see another player with the same jersey number in this exact same pose many times in his long career.

Barkley is also a California boy (like Mr. Elway) and a Pac-12 player that plays in a pro-style offense under Lane Kiffin.

I could see this picture next year but with a blue and orange color scheme.

Future Possibilities: Nick Foles, Arizona

6' 5", 240 pounds

Foles has the size at 6' 5" to see over the line and has a great delivery. He would bring a Peyton Manning-esque look to the position, which wouldn't be a bad thing, assuming he turns out to be even half the player of Manning.

And I see him as a high second-round pick which would be doable for Denver.

Future Possibilities: Matt Flynn, Free Agent (Green Bay Packers)

6' 2", 225 pounds

This would be a very interesting idea. He will be a free agent the end of this year, and Green Bay has Graham Harrell in the wings to back up Rodgers if they don't want to pay the price to re-sign Flynn.

He would bring a solid background of having played behind one of the top two or three QBs in the NFL and has played on a winning program. And we need a lot more of that right now.

My only real concern would be how much would it cost, and are we looking at another Kevin Kolb situation?

I think Flynn is better than Kolb, but is he better enough to get Elway and Company to pull the trigger?

My Predictions

Kyle Orton - A real long shot. 0 - 10 percent

Andrew Luck - Assuming we won't get the first pick and we don't trade away the entire farm to get it, I see no chance. 0 - 10 percent

 Landry Jones - I also don't see us with the second pick which is what it will likely take. 10-20 percent

 Brady Quinn - Could stick if he doesn't get a better offer but probably would be a backup. 25 - 35 percent

Adam Weber - A lot will depend on who else comes in, but I could see him as the backup here, if Quinn were to leave. 25 - 35 percent

Matt Barkley - Is in the wheel house for us and will likely go in the top five to seven slots, assuming he doesn't opt to stay one more year, ala Andrew Luck. 50 - 75 percent

Matt Flynn - Could be signed, assuming Green Bay doesn't want to bring Graham Harrell up from their Practice Squad. 50 - 75 percent

Nick Foles - This is an interesting idea, assuming Elway and Fox like him enough to consider him as starting material almost out of the box. And he wouldn't cost a first-round pick. 50 - 75 percent

Tim Tebow - A very tough call, but I will say  50 - 75 percent

My prognosticator says we get either Matt Barkley or Nick Foles in the draft or sign Matt Flynn as a free agent and trade Tebow unless he renegotiates his contract and agrees to play a slash role.

Then we could let Brady go and have Adam Weber as the backup QB for not much money but with some upside.

Just one Bronco fan(atic)'s opinion.