ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As the 2024 NFL season moves along, and more and more teams lose their starting quarterbacks to injury, it becomes increasingly evident a Broncos position of strength is at backup quarterback.
Veteran Bronco quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson are each better than what Miami, Tennessee and Cleveland have been lining up behind center in recent weeks.
As the NFL trade deadline is now less than two weeks away, Stidham or Wilson, Wilson or Stidham, will be on notice, at least as the way I have it figured. For now only teams not in playoff contention have lost their starting quarterbacks, in the latest example of the chicken or the egg theory.
But if a team with a winning record loses their QB in the next two weeks? The Broncos will get some phone calls – as they no doubt already have throughout the season.
There are reasons pro and con for the Broncos to consider trading one of their veteran backup QBs – not both, but one – by the 2 p.m. MST Nov. 5 deadline.
Reasons to trade either Stidham or Wilson
*They are both quality backup quarterbacks and the Broncos really only need one. Through seven games, Stidham has taken but two victory-formation knees while Wilson’s next snap will be his first of 2024. By trading away one, the Broncos still have a good one if rookie Bo Nix gets shaken up for a series or two.
Having two quality backups is a luxury compared to say the “Joker” position, which head coach and play-caller Sean Payton doesn’t currently have at his disposal.
*Both Stidham and Wilson are free agents after this year. Nix figures to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback for the next 10 years, if all goes well. Both Stidham and Wilson have displayed keen competitiveness in their brief time in Denver. They’re professionals and help Nix get ready to play each week. But ultimately, Stidham and Wilson want to play, too.
One of these veteran backup quarterbacks might opt to sign back with the Broncos in the offseason because it can get a whole lot worse going to a place that’s not as quarterback-friendly as it is with head coach Payton. But the way to bet is at least one, if not both, will want to test free agency to see if there’s a little more open pathway to the starting position than what Denver can offer them.
*After losing three first-round draft picks and three second-round draft picks the previous three years in exchange for quarterback Russell Wilson and Payton, the Broncos could use all the draft picks they can muster to replenish their roster. As it stands now, the Broncos don’t have picks in the fifth or seventh rounds of the 2025 draft, although they do have two in the sixth.
In recent years, the Broncos have plucked the likes of Jonathon Cooper, Devaughn Vele, Luke Wattenberg, Alex Forsyth and Audric Estime in the fifth and seventh rounds.
*If the Broncos want to acquire a tight end, or running back, or whatever for their second-half push, they may have to clear some cap space. At present, the Broncos only have $5.2 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.com. A tight end like Hunter Henry, for instance, has a pro-rated $5.3 million cap hit this year. Stidham entered this season with a $7 million cap hit while Wilson’s was $2.73 million.
*The Broncos could use a joker-type tight end as Greg Dulcich has struggled to regain form since sitting out most of the previous two years with a hamstring injury. Lucas Krull has done a fine job the past three games, recording 6 catches for 57 yards, and it says here the Broncos can do worse than make him their receiving tight end for the rest of the season.
But if the Broncos believe they need an upgrade at that position – or running back or receiver or offensive lineman – Stidham or Wilson might help get them one.
Reasons to keep Stidham and Wilson
*Miami and Cleveland may not be in playoff contention, but if the Broncos help out their quarterback situation by giving them either Stidham or Wilson, they might climb back in. And with the 4-3 Broncos very much in AFC wild-card contention entering their game Sunday against woeful Carolina, they should not trade one of their starting-caliber, backup quarterbacks to an AFC team. Especially not the Browns, whom the Broncos play in six weeks.
*Two quality backup quarterbacks are better than one. If, heaven forbid, Nix has to miss a week or two, the Broncos would still feel confident they can win a game or two with Stidham as their starter and Wilson ready at moment’s notice. Or vice versa.
