While calling the Broncos’ quarterback situation a surplus may be somewhat misleading due to a career backup/third-stringer and a recent bust comprising the reserve contingent, the AFC West team would be a place for teams in need to turn before the deadline.
Bo Nix beat out Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson after a strong preseason and has shown flashes, particularly after a shaky first two weeks, to help the Broncos to 4-3. Nix is entrenched as Denver’s starter, but the Broncos kept both Stidham and Wilson on their 53-man roster. As the deadline looms in less than two weeks, the prospect of the Broncos unloading one of their arms is in play.
Wilson’s talent still intrigues the Broncos, according to ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold, who indicates the team would be open to a trade that sends one of the backups elsewhere. Both Stidham and Wilson are on expiring contracts, but it is within reason the Broncos would view one as a player who could back up Nix beyond this season. It would be a reach to suggest either would generate extensive free agency interest, keeping the door open to one being Sean Payton‘s preference to stay.
Stidham, 28, said he still viewed himself as a starter-caliber quarterback following news of Nix’s August ascent to the QB1 gig. Both the Broncos and Raiders turned to the former fourth-round pick in unique circumstances. The Raiders ended Derek Carr‘s nine-season starter stay by parking him to prevent an injury inflating his 2023 guarantees; the Broncos effectively did the same a year later, with Russell Wilson being benched at the same Week 17 juncture. A sixth-year veteran, Stidham never made a start as a Patriot and has attempted just 197 career passes.
Attached to a two-year deal worth $10MM, Stidham loomed as a possible insurance option as a 2024 stopgap. But the Broncos traded for Wilson after long-running negotiations. Days later, they drafted Nix. Wilson’s erratic play did plenty to lead Robert Saleh out of New York, being benched three times from 2022-23. The former No. 2 overall pick’s arm strength outflanks both Nix and Stidham, but he has shown little to indicate a turn into a viable starter will commence. Wilson operated with the Broncos’ third-stringers in training camp and during the first two preseason games, before Nix officially became the starter, and was viewed as having plenty of ground to make up before training camp started. The Jets needed to take on some of Wilson’s salary in order to collect a sixth-rounder (in a pick-swap deal) in April.
Wilson, 24, would still stand to have more upside compared to Stidham. Though, the latter has been in Payton’s system for two seasons and may be the steadier option if Nix suffered an injury. Trading Stidham would clear more salary off the books, as he is due more than $2.5MM in prorated base pay this season. Wilson would be owed barely $500K by an acquiring team. In the event of a trade, the Broncos would probably need add a third QB, as no passers reside on the team’s practice squad.
Additionally, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes the Broncos should not be considered likely to add a piece in a trade. Although Denver hosts a listless Carolina team Sunday, the club is developing Nix and does not profile as a Super Bowl contender that would benefit from a hired gun. Indeed, Legwold adds the Broncos are more likely to offload talent — something they did not do last year, despite hitting the deadline at 3-5 — than bring in help this year. Wilson’s $83MM-plus in dead money still overshadows the team, even though the QB will count less on next year’s payroll (roughly $32MM) compared to this season.
While the addition of a pass catcher to help Nix — particularly one signed beyond 2024 — would seemingly boost this Broncos edition, they should probably not be considered a frontrunner for any of the receivers yet to be traded. The Broncos are shorthanded at the position, however, following the report of Josh Reynolds sustaining injuries in a recent shooting.
