ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If economics is used as a tiebreaker, Jarrett Stidham will not only be the Broncos’ No. 2 quarterback for the team’s season opener Sunday at Seattle, he is tied for the top backup quarterback in the NFL.
Stidham’s $6 million pay out for the 2024 season is tied with Washington’s Marcus Mariota and the Jets’ Tyrod Taylor for the league’s highest-paid non-rookie backup quarterback.
Right behind that trio is another Broncos’ backup QB, Zach Wilson, who is making $5.45 million in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract he received from the New York Jets as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Denver is splitting Wilson’s cost with the Jets, with each team paying him $2.73 million this year.
Broncos’ head coach Sean Payton has yet to announce whether Stidham or Wilson will be his No. 2 quarterback. But given Stidham’s salary, it would be noteworthy if he’s not the choice to serve as the backup to rookie starter Bo Nix, at least in the early part of the regular season.
We’re not talking about first-round rookies New England’s Drake Maye, Atlanta’s Michael Penix and Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy, all of whom received signing bonuses north of $12.7 million that are included in their 2024 cash pay outs. Those rookies are not so much backups (McCarthy is out for the season with a knee injury) as future franchise quarterbacks.
This about the vets who are getting paid “backup money.’’ From that group, no one is making more than Stidham, who as a free agent prior to the 2023 season received a two-year, $10 million contract from the Broncos. Stidham was paid $4 million last year and $6 million this year for a $5 million average. But in 2024 cash payout, Stidham is tied for No. 1.
A look at the NFL’s top 32 paid backup quarterbacks in 2024 cash dollars (note how many former Broncos starting QBs are on this list):
1. (tie) Jarett Stidham, Broncos, $6 million
Marcus Mariota, Washington, $6 million
Tyrod Taylor, Jets, $6 million
4. Trey Lance, Cowboys, $5.3 million
5. Drew Lock, Giants, $5 million
6. Joe Flacco, Colts, $4.5 million
7. Andy Dalton, Panthers, $4 million
Jameis Winston, Browns, $4 million
9. Carson Wentz, Chiefs, $3.33 million
10. Justin Fields, Steelers, $3.23 million
11. Davis Mills, Texans, $3.12 million
12. Jimmy Garoppolo, Rams, $3.04 million
13. Case Keenum, Texans, $3 million
14. Mason Rudolph, Titans, $2.87 million
15. Mac Jones, Jaguars, $2.79 million
16. Mitch Trubisky, Bills, $2.75 million
17. Zach Wilson, Broncos, $2.73 million*
18. Easton Stick, Chargers, $2.67 million
19. Cooper Rush, Cowboys, $2.25 million
20. Josh Dobbs, 49ers, $2.25 million
21. Brandon Allen, 49ers, $2.02 million
22. Kenny Pickett, Eagles, $1.98 million
23. Nick Mullens, Vikings, $1.9 million
24. Kyle Trask, Bucs, $1.41 million
25. Josh Johnson, Ravens, $1.38 million
26. Kyle Allen, Steelers, $1.29 million
27. Taylor Heinicke, Chargers, $1.21 million*
28. Malik Willis, Packers, $1.17 million
29. Brett Rypien, Vikings, $1.13 million
Jeff Driskel, Washington, $1.13 million
31. Sam Ehlinger, Colts, $1.06 million
32. Hendon Hooker, Lions, $1.01 million
*Wilson’s salary here is only what Broncos are paying. Heinicke's pay out is only what the Chargers are paying.
*Bold and italics: Current Broncos quarterbacks
Bold: Former Broncos quarterbacks
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