Lombardi: Broncos have to trade WR Lloyd
Published: October 16th, 2011 | Tags: Michael Lombardi, Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos, Eddie Royal, Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow
The Broncos’ decision to name Tim Tebow the starting quarterback likely will have a domino effect on the offense that begins with WR Brandon Lloyd and also could include WR Eddie Royal, according to NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi.
“I think they have to trade Brandon Lloyd,” Lombardi said Sunday on “NFL GameDay Morning”. “They knew going in that you put Tim Tebow under center Brandon Lloyd’s effectiveness within the offense is not going to be there. Plus, his contract is expiring at the end of the season, he won’t be in Denver.”
Lombardi had estimated there is a 90 percent chance the Broncos trade Lloyd. He sees no shortage of suitors for Lloyd, the NFL’s leading receiver last season.
“I look for the St. Louis Rams, I look for the Tennessee Titans to make a strong play for him,” he said. “I really believe he’ll be traded by the deadline on Tuesday.”
Lombardi doesn’t believe Tebow’s move up the depth chart will lead to erstwhile starter Kyle Orton being moved, however.
“I think Kyle Orton certainly could be had for the right price, for any price,” Lombardi said. “But who’s going to pick up a quarterback with such a high salary-cap number … and then he comes to your team and won’t know what to do to run the offense. I think it would be unlikely that he would get dealt at this point of the season.”
Lombardi reports that Lloyd isn’t the only Denver receiver on the block. Royal also can be had at the right price, according to a league source.