Broncos Begin to Rebuild

Earlier today the Denver Broncos traded their #1 wide receiver to the St. Luis Rams.  Brandon Lloyd, who has spent 2 years with Broncos, was apparently worth only a 6th round pick to the team as they sent him to St. Luis.  This doesn't sound like a good deal for the Broncos, but if we look a little closer to the situation then we can see why this deal was made.

Since the beginning of the camp this year Denver has been in the middle of a QB controversy regarding Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow.  Tebow owned Orton when it came to public opinion and Orton owned Tebow in everything that mattered to a football team.  Proof of that is in the comments made by Brandon Lloyd during the preseason and several times during the regular season.  Lloyd wanted Orton and it is very possible that he still does.  Orton didn't loose his job because Tebow is a better QB and Lloyd knows that.  Orton was replaced because the team is not going to make the playoffs again this season and the organization needs to see what Tebow can do over an extended period of time.  I doubt Lloyd was happy about the move and probably has made his concerns known to the coaching staff. 

What concerns could Lloyd have?  He is in the last year of his contract and in order to get paid the way he would like to, he needs to have another Pro Bowl year.  I doubt that would happen with a second year QB with major mechanical problems and who tends to be inaccurate.  Lloyd is also not targeted as much in the new offense that Coach Fox has implemented.  The combination of less opportunities along with less quality opportunities had to make Lloyd uneasy about his future contract.

The contract also plays a role on the management side of this deal as well.  With Lloyd going to the Pro Bowl last season and having a fairly productive year right now, it makes since that he would be asking for a large sum of money come the off-season.  The Broncos have openly said that they would not pay him what he was going to want so it also makes since for the Broncos to get another piece to build the future with.  Trading Lloyd gets the Broncos either a 5th or 6th round pick in next years draft depending on how well Lloyd plays for the Rams this season.  When you are rebuilding, like the Broncos are, you need to get draft picks to build depth and fill starting roles.  So, if you know you aren't going to keep a player after their contract is up then why not put yourself in a position to get better in the draft.

Lloyd may not be the only wide receiver that the Broncos say goodbye to this week.  It is rumored that Eddie Royal is also being shopped around the league.  Royal has been injured for most of this season and when he has played his impact has been negligible.  Royal hasn't been able to regain the form he had in his rookie year.  In the last 3 years he hasn't been able to come within 30 catches and 300 yards of his rookie season.  Now the offense has had a dramatic overhaul and Royal doesn't fit the philosophy of a run first offense.  The Broncos are looking for larger receivers and aren't going to be spending much time in the spread offense where a smaller receiver like Royal would be better suited.  So, the Broncos would love to get yet another draft pick for a receiver that no longer fits into the future plans of the organization.

The Broncos are rebuilding.  These 2 players won't be the last to be shipped out of Denver before next season.  The Defense is poised for a major overhaul is their play doesn't get noticeably better.  It is possible that the Broncos will start next season with 3 QB's that weren't on the roster this season.  In fact, unless Tebow shows a great deal of growth and improvement as a QB then I will promise you none of these guys will be back but 2 of them will be starters somewhere else.  I wouldn't be surprised to see 1 or more running backs move on as well.  If you're a Bronco fan, just know that this is coming and that it is a good thing moving forward.  You need patients to see the changes through and understand that while things will be bad now, things will get better very soon.