Pat Bowlen and the two John’s have the Broncos’ future in their hands. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Image)

In lieu of the tentative news announced that the NFL lockout has been lifted, team general managers and personnel directors are scrambling to normalize their strategy for this week’s Draft. In what has been a build up that was anything but normal, the labor dispute between the owners and players has wreaked havoc on the standard Draft planning that accompanies this exciting time of year. In short, front offices are scurrying to make amendments to their original draft plans- amended by the lockout! The team most affected by the chaos may very well be our Denver Broncos.

Treading down the hallowed halls of change were the newly minted Bronco braintrust of John Elway, John Fox and the incumbent general manager Brian Xanders. That was before the lockout became official. New ideas were premium. Positions were to be evaluated. Directions were to be mapped.

Then came March 11th.

March 11th was the date the NFL players formally decertified thus sending the offseason into chaos mode. Teams such as the Broncos had to alter personnel decisions with varying degrees. There were rumors of Kyle Orton, as well as Tim Tebow, being on the trade market. There was (and still is) a defense that needed some serious tending to. All the plans went out the window as team hands were tied with respect to player movement. Adjustments were made to the strategy and alternate plans revealed that patience was the ultimate virtue as the lockout halted trades, free agency signings and the like.

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Should the Broncos draft a QB with the No. 2 pick? It would give Tim Tebow some competition. (DenverBroncos.com)

Here we stand. The highest ever draft pick for the Orange and Blue. A new head coach in John Fox. The Duke finding his way home to salvage the day. Timothy Tebow. Defensive retooling. The seemingly Mile High list of open items reminds me of a movie title…’Things to do in Denver when you’re Drafting’…or something like that!

Opinions have been submitted from the day the draft order was announced. After months of talk, speculation, joy, fear and loathing, the general consensus is-(drum roll please)- there is no consensus! Among the fans, that may hold true but among the Bronco brass, there may be a different take. Months of mock drafts, due diligence and player workouts have come down to this. But what exactly will ‘this’ be?
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