ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Giving Jarrett Stidham the edge as the No. 1 quarterback is fine.
But even Peyton Manning had Brock Osweiler as his backup.
The Broncos did show interest free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold on Monday, the first day of the negotiating period. But the Broncos balked at his $10 million asking price. Sources familiar with the situation say Darnold strongly preferred the Minnesota Vikings, with all they have to offer, over the Broncos, who are clearly in transition following the release of Russell Wilson and his dead-cap consequences.
Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings.
Jacoby Brissett, another backup possibility, went for $8 million back to New England, where he will mentor or back up the Patriots’ No. 3 overall picked rookie quarterback.
The Broncos did their due diligence on New England quarterback Mac Jones but decided not to get involved in trade talks. Jones was shipped to Jacksonville for a measly sixth-round draft pick. Nor was Denver in on Baker Mayfield or Kirk Cousins. Way too expensive. Mayfield returned to Tampa Bay for $30 per year over the next two seasons, and Cousins got a whopping $45 million a year contract with Atlanta.
The Broncos also decided against Mason Rudolph, who has less recent experience than Stidham, and went to Tennessee on a team-friendly, one-year, $2.87 million deal.
Now what? The market has six viable quarterback candidates remaining – two from free agency and four via trade – whom the Broncos may consider. Here’s a look at those six quarterbacks with the understanding the Broncos seem to be leaning toward giving Stidham the edge as the No. 1 quarterback and also using their No. 12 overall draft pick to take their quarterback for the future.
Free agents
Jimmy Garoppolo, 32, 11th season
After playing well in leading the Raiders to a road victory against the Broncos in the season opener last September, Jimmy G fell apart, throwing five interceptions in his next two games and eventually getting benched in favor of fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell, who also beat the Broncos in the season finale.
Garoppolo was just released by the Raiders, and he will begin the season by serving a two-game suspension for a performance-enhancement violation. If he can be had $5 million, the Broncos can have Stidham start for two games and their first-round rookie serve as a backup. And take it from there.
Ryan Tannehill, 35, 13th season
The Broncos have yet to show much interest here. If Darnold got $10 million, Tannehill has the right to ask for $10 million, but the longer he stays on the market, the greater the possibility his price comes down. A troublesome ankle injury affected him the past two seasons and his performance slipped precipitously. Still think he has a chance for one more rebound.
Trade
Before looking at trade possibilities, it’s fair to point out the Broncos won’t be trading away their No. 12 overall pick unless they can move up or down in the first round. And they don’t have a second-round draft pick because of the Sean Payton trade with New Orleans. And after trading away three first-round and three second-round picks the previous two years for Wilson and Payton, the Broncos aren’t looking to deal away any of their top picks in 2025.
So it would have to be a third-round pick tops in a package that could also include a later-round pick and/or a veteran player if the Broncos to swing a trade for a quarterback. Here are some possible quarterbacks available via trade:
Justin Fields, Bears, 24, 4th season
He’s the best of the quarterbacks on the trading block, but he also would command the most value in return. And the Broncos don’t seem to have enough draft capital to satisfy the Bears should they take Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Fields is a three-year starter who has displayed elite ability, including in a Week 4 game last year against the Broncos when he completed 28 of 35 for 335 yards and four touchdowns. But he also makes too many game-losing turnovers, including that week 4 game against the Broncos when he lost a fumble during a Nik Bonitto sack that was returned by Jonathon Cooper for a touchdown.
Broncos’ general manager George Paton had a chance to take Fields with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 draft, but took cornerback Pat Surtain II instead. Most everyone applauds Paton for this decision.
Trey Lance, Cowboys, 23, 4th season
Just three years ago, Lance was so highly thought of, none other than Kyle Shanahan traded three first-round draft picks and a third-round selection in exchange for moving up from No. 12 overall to No. 3 to take the athletic, strong-armed quarterback from North Dakota State.
But after sitting behind Garoppolo in his rookie year, Lance suffered a harrowing ankle injury in the second game of his second season of 2022 and hasn’t played since.
It’s easy to see the Broncos’ offensive brain trust of Payton, Pete Carmichael and Joe Lombardi using Lance as a gadget-type quarterback, the way they did with Taysom Hill in New Orleans.
Zach Wilson, Jets, 24, 4th season
The No. 2 overall pick in the same 2021 draft where Lance went No. 3, Wilson has 33 games experience as a starter. With Aaron Rodgers returning from a torn Achilles at age 40, the Jets may want to use their No. 10 overall draft pick on a quarterback, a strategy that would make Wilson available.
Wilson made enough plays to help the Jets beat the Broncos each of the past two years in Denver.
Sam Howell, Washington, 23, 3rd season
Not only is Washington going to take a quarterback with their No. 2 overall draft pick – either Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels – they just added veteran Marcus Mariota to be its backup.
Howell had a great game in beating the Broncos, 35-33 in week 2, completing 27 of 39 for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. He has some flaws, most notably while recording a league-most 21 interceptions and 65 sacks. But he can make some nice throws on the run and Payton might feel like he can be coached up.
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