Let me start by saying this is not a hate on Kyle Orton story.  The guy did the best he could have done with his physical talents and the position he was in. 

He won six straight games.  He played injured.  He’s good in the community. I actually like the guy. 

But he is not a franchise quarterback.

In the modern history of the NFL, just two teams have won the Super Bowl without a superstar quarterback; the 2000 Ravens, and the 2002 Buccaneers.  What do those teams have in common?  They both had all-time great defenses.  Defenses loaded with Hall of Famers. Denver is not going to have in that kind of defense in the 2010-11 season. 

While the defense has been very good, this defense will be another year older and our best players will be another year past their primes.   I’m pretty confident saying that Kyle Orton will not be quarterbacking a Super Bowl winning team with that defense playing alongside him.

I’m sure that Josh McDaniels learned the oldest saying in the NFL during the three-peat in New England.  If you do not have a franchise quarterback, you must get one.  He thought he had one in Jay Cutler, but Cutler showed that he was unwilling to play for Josh after the trade rumors, which ultimately lead him to the prime pickings of Jason Campbell or Kyle Orton.

If McDaniels wants to save his job past his four year contract and if Pat Bowlen ever wants to see the Broncos win another championship, they cannot pony up with Kyle Orton for the long haul.

This year the Broncos will be selecting 10th in the NFL Draft.  There will be three teams needing quarterbacks selecting in front of them in St. Louis, Washington, and Cleveland.  Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen are the only two prospects that will receive a top ten grade at the position.  

It is possible that Cleveland or St. Louis could surprise and take an elite defensive player such as Suh or Eric Berry instead of a quarterback, especially Cleveland who has Brady Quinn already on the roster.  That would leave us in a position where Washington picks sixth with at least one QB still left on the board.  That QB could very well be Jimmy Clausen, and if it is, Denver must do whatever it has to do to select him.

Why?

Jimmy Clausen is simply the best Junior quarterback of all time, and he comes from Charlie Weis’ pro style offense.  Yes, the latter was also said about Quinn, but Quinn did not compile the stats that Clausen has. 

Clausen has better stats with less talent around him at this point of his career than Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Matt Ryan.  This season Clausen amassed 3,722 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and just four interceptions, all on the national stage with more pressure than any quarterback in the nation and playing half the season not being able to push off an injured turf toe.

The Broncos must trade past Washington and get Clausen.  The best trade scenario would be with Cleveland to acquire the third pick, which kills two birds with one stone.  It puts Denver ahead of Shanahan and Washington, and also gets Cleveland out of the way.

The draft value of the third pick is 2,200 points. The value of the 10th pick is 1,300 points which is a 900 point difference.  Nine hundred points is roughly the 18th pick in the draft, or a second and a third round pick.

After the inevitable trade of Brandon Marshall, Denver must get their franchise QB while they are in the best position to do so.   Stay with Kyle Orton for the next five years and we will all look back and face palm ourselves as Cutler and Clausen are leading their teams deep into the playoffs every year.

Josh McDaniels, save this franchise while you still can.

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