Ahead of training camp, the Broncos have a quarterback who spent a season in Sean Payton‘s offense and another the team drafted in the first round. Zach Wilson looms as a wild card.
As Jarrett Stidham enjoys an advantage from spending 2023 in Denver and Bo Nix likely to start the majority (barring injury) of the Broncos’ games this season, Wilson sits in an unusual position. The Broncos and Jets agreed on a salary compromise to facilitate a trade finalized days before the draft, but the former No. 2 overall pick is not a lock to secure a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.
[RELATED: Broncos Decline Zach Wilson’s Fifth-Year Option]
Stidham and Wilson may well be vying for one roster spot, and The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider notes the latter has some ground to close if he is to be Denver’s backup to begin the season (subscription required). The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel also views Wilson as in third place in this competition exiting minicamp.
In terms of arm talent, Wilson did reveal an advantage over the other two Denver QBs during on-field workouts. This has not exactly been the BYU alum’s issue during his NFL career, with a dazzling pro day leading to the Jets deciding to select him second overall and trade Sam Darnold. Wilson quickly revealed himself to be a poor decision-maker with inconsistent mechanics in New York, leading to multiple 2022 benchings and another demotion — for a player (Tim Boyle) Robert Saleh admitted was less talented — late last season.
Payton said (via ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold) he does not have a hard deadline — before game week, that is — on deciding if Nix, Stidham or Wilson will be his Week 1 starter. A recent report pointed to the job being Nix’s to lose. Considering the Broncos’ investment in the recent Oregon standout, it would be stunning if the No. 12 overall pick was not in the lineup early in the season. As of now, Stidham appears to have the better shot among the veterans of delaying Nix’s debut.
Payton regularly kept two quarterbacks on his active roster in New Orleans, doing so before the NFL reimplemented the emergency third-QB rule. The league further increasing flexibility for teams regarding their QB3 spot keeps the door open for the loser of the Wilson-Stidham competition to end up on the practice squad. Though, select teams could certainly eye the competition’s odd man out for an active-roster role. Wilson would need to be exposed to waivers if cut, whereas Stidham is a vested veteran. If the Broncos waive Wilson, they would be hit with $2.7MM in dead money. This would obviously represent another setback for a once-coveted prospect.
The Broncos, of course, are in Year 1 of a record-setting dead money process stemming from their Russell Wilson release. A minor guarantee for Zach Wilson might not move the needle too much when Payton decides on his backup.
Stidham is attached to a two-year, $10MM deal, but just $1MM of his 2024 base salary ($4.49MM) is guaranteed. As a vested vet, Stidham will see the rest of that money become locked in just before the season. Denver trading one of the veterans, while adding another QB to be its emergency option on the P-squad, also would seem to be on the table. The preseason’s conclusion has been a trade window for many years.
Stidham or Wilson seeing significant playing time this year will mean something has gone wrong, as Nix is 24 and set the Division I-FBS record for quarterback starts. Training camp and the preseason will bring more important reps for Wilson, but after being paid to leave the Jets, the erratic talent — who arrived after the Broncos’ offseason program had begun — looks to be falling behind with his new team.
He’ll be cut during preseason play
Doubt it… he will get in a couple of games to justify the trade. Might as well get a look at him.
Stidham has an advantage in having worked with Payton before and Nix has an advantage of being a first round pick, but more significantly, they both have an advantage in not being Zach Wilson.
I don’t expect him to get cut but I don’t expect him to be anything more than QB3 fingers crossed you never have to see him start
He will be QB in a couple of games. Why trade a draft pick for him in the first place? You have to justify the trade somehow.
They traded a 6th round pick for Zach Wilson and a 7th round pick, and the Jets picked up half his salary for the year. it’s almost the least you can possibly trade for a guy. They don’t need to justify that.
Still…they did make the trade.
Teams cut late round picks all the time. At that trade price you’re just taking a look at the guy.
True but it just shows the inept way Denver is operating now.. eating all of Wilson’s money and now spending even more money on Zac Wilson yet again.. keep blowing money that could be used elsewhere to sign and cut same players over and over again .. Sean Payton was biggest and yet worse hire they could have done..everything his way with no one controlling his own ego. Sorry for all the Broncos fans out there
They ate the Russell Wilson money so that they wouldn’t have to guarantee a big chunk more for two seasons from now. The money they’re spending on Zach Wilson is less than 1.1% of the salary cap, so it’s hard to care all that much.
They made they trade before the draft correct? As easy as it may seem to guarantee things there was no guarantee the Broncos walked away with a 1st round QB, but they did and now have Wilson as the #3 QB
I wonder what the Zach Wilson truthers are going to say now
Lmao are there any left?
So it’s not true that Sean Payton can turn any QB into a Drew Brees?
Forget Brees. If Payton could turn him into Chase Daniel that’d be an achievement.
Zach Wilson will be day 1 starter.
lol
Maybe Payton just wants a look at Zach’s mom? That may pave his way to the backup job…
At what position?
Tight end.
Being in Denver does give him easier access to his mom’s friends.
Not sure what anyone sees in Stidham. They must love his clipboard-holding form.