Report: John Elway Talked to Drew Rosenhaus About Orlando Franklin Moving to Guard

Jan 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos offensive tackle Orlando Franklin (74) against the New England Patriots during the 2013 AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

John Elway and Joe Ellis, the men in charge of the Denver Broncos these days, are also apparently in charge of the NFL’s Owners Meetings in Orlando, Florida.

In Orlando, Elway talked about a different Orlando with famous agent Drew Rosenhaus, the man who represents Broncos right tackle Orlando Franklin, the subject of one critical roster situation this offseason.

Franklin has been rumored to be an option to move inside to guard, and those rumors were proven to be truth as Elway was pulled aside by Rosenhaus at the owner meetings to clarify the status of his client, per the Denver Post.

“John Elway was talking on a patio deck just outside the hotel lobby Monday when veteran agent Drew Rosenhaus walked up and asked for a private audience with the Denver GM.

Rosenhaus represents Broncos offensive tackle Orlando Franklin, who is under consideration for a move inside to left guard to fill the void left by Zane Beadles’ free-agent departure to Jacksonville.

Elway clarified the situation with Rosenhaus. Franklin might move inside and Chris Clark, who replaced injured all-pro Ryan Clady at left tackle last season, might swing over to right tackle, Franklin’s usual position.”

The Broncos may, or may not move Franklin to guard, but given their current situation and the fact that they missed out on their primary free agent target (Evan Dietrich-Smith) at the interior OL position, having Chris Clark move to right tackle and Franklin kick inside to guard is not the worst plan the Broncos could have.

In fact, it might be the best.

Ryan Clady will be a huge addition to the Broncos’ offensive line this year, as one of the best tackles in the league. Chris Clark did a very good job protecting Peyton Manning’s blind side for a majority of the 2013 NFL season, and he should be in the starting lineup in my opinion.

Franklin showed some signs of weakness in the Super Bowl, but he’s actually been a pretty solid tackle for the Broncos despite the assumption that he’d be kicked to guard when he was picked in the 2nd round back in 2011.

If the Broncos don’t move Franklin inside to guard, the Post cites practice squad veteran and former Air Force Falcon defensive lineman Ben Garland as a darkhorse candidate to take the left guard spot. Garland has been working with the offensive line and will have a shot to compete for that job this offseason.

The ideal situation for the Broncos at this point would be to either kick Franklin to guard and move Clark to right tackle, or simply draft a center/guard and keep Clark as their top sixth man on the offensive line.

The Broncos are also reportedly high on 2013 sixth round pick Vinston Painter, who was placed on the active roster late last season after the San Francisco 49ers tried to steal him from Denver.