Before roster cuts begin next week, the Broncos should attempt to trade one of Zach Wilson or Jarrett Stidham.
Bo Nix is the quarterback of the future and present for the Denver Broncos. Who ends up being his backup is still to be determined.
Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson have had moments of promise mixed in with a few mistakes during NFL preseason. Assuming the Broncos only have room for two QBs on the 53-man roster, one of Stidham or Wilson will be let go next week.
If Denver cuts Wilson, he would be subject to the NFL’s waiver wire. As a 25-year-old vet with 33 carer starts, Wilson would likely be claimed off waivers.
The Broncos could release Stidham — a vested veteran — and he would not have to clear waivers before returning on the practice squad, but he could be offered a spot on another team’s active roster as a free agent.
Surely, there are some teams who would be interested in one of Stidham or Wilson as a backup.
With Stetson Bennett struggling in preseason, perhaps the Los Angeles Rams would be interested in Stidham as a veteran backup to begin the season. The Minnesota Vikings might also be interested in adding a backup QB after losing J.J. McCarthy to a season-ending knee injury. The Chicago Bears could use a veteran behind Caleb Williams (although they do have Brett Rypien).
Whether its the Rams, Vikings, Bears or somebody else, Stidham and Wilson would likely draw interest from a few teams if they become available. Denver’s front office should make some calls this week to see if they can swap a third-string quarterback for a late-round draft pick.
Watch: #Broncos recently announced starter Bo Nix’ film reel reviewed by football legend Brian Baldinger after preseason game vs Green Bay
Though this year will be a rebuilding year for the Denver Broncos, the team’s offense is in good hands with talented rookie Bo Nix who officially got the job of starting QB today.
Two preseason matches don’t give a large sample size for stats but Nix has come out of the gate with a solid performance which could translate to Denvers’ overall league standing improving greatly alongside the young quarterbacks’ progress as he gains more experience in the NFL.
Analyst and former offensive lineman Brian Baldinger shared his reel review of the budding star athlete on Twitter, stating Nix and Sean Payton are in sync and look to be forming the basis of a solid coach/quarterback relationship.
.@Broncos@BoNix10 and Sean Payton are in sync; the way a QB and Play Caller have to be and the early results is a strong working relationship that has been productive. The key is how well the TEAM is responding to Nix. #BaldysBreakdownspic.twitter.com/eFNLy8dF8u
Although Nix has cemented his spot as a starter and possibly secured the future of a Broncos comeback, the battle is still on for the second-string spot, which comes down to Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
Rookie Bo Nix has been named the starting QB in Denver
With the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Oregon QB Bo Nix. Leaving no first round caliber quarterbacks on the board when the Raiders selected at 13 overall.
Nix was the sixth quarterback taken in April’s draft. And like several of the five selected ahead of him, he will be the team’s starter from day one.
The Broncos announced today that Nix will be the team’s starter. Nix won the job over Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham.
Should Nix hold down the job past the first quarter of the season, he is who will be behind center when the Raiders come to Denver in Week five.
The Raiders were also in a quarterback competition this offseason, with Gardner Minshew being named the starter earlier this week. So, they’re in the same boat in terms of who will be the starter initially in what is probably a wait-and-see approach in the first quarter of the season.
Bo Nix is the Denver Broncos’ 14th starting quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement. Here’s the full list.
The Denver Broncos have been in football purgatory following Peyton Manning’s retirement from the NFL.
Manning played in Denver from 2012-2015, posting a 45-12 record as the team’s starter. The Broncos won the AFC West in all four of Manning’s seasons and they reached two Super Bowls.
After winning Super Bowl 50, Manning retired during the 2016 offseason. Denver spent the last nine years searching for a replacement. Broncos fans now have hope that Bo Nix will finally break the team’s post-Manning quarterback curse.
Nix, who was picked by Denver in the first round of the NFL draft in April, has been named the team’s starter ahead of the 2024 NFL season. He will become the Broncos’ 14th starting quarterback since Manning’s retirement. Here’s the full list.
Broncos starting quarterbacks since Peyton Manning
Siemian was the team’s only full-time starter to post a winning record, but he wasn’t a franchise quarterback. Here’s a quick look back at each QB.
1. Trevor Siemian: 13-11
(Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports)
Denver’s most successful quarterback since Manning’s retirement (in terms of record), Siemian nearly reached the playoffs in his first season under center. After spending last year as a backup with the New York Jets, Siemian is now a free agent.
2. Paxton Lynch: 1-3
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
One of the biggest busts in franchise history, Lynch went on to have unsuccessful stints in the CFL, USFL and XFL after falling out of the NFL in 2019. He’s currently a free agent.
3. Brock Osweiler: 0-4
(Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports)
Osweiler was an important player for the Broncos during their Super Bowl 50 run as he filled in well for an injured Manning during the 2015 season. Osweiler’s second stint with the team did not go well, though, and he retired from the NFL in 2019.
4. Case Keenum: 6-10
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Keenum had an unremarkable one-year run with the Broncos in 2018. He’s now a backup with the Houston Texans.
5. Joe Flacco: 2-6
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Flacco joined the Broncos in 2019 and he didn’t last long in Denver. He’s now a backup with the Indianapolis Colts.
6. Brandon Allen: 1-2
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Allen started three games in 2019 when Flacco and Drew Lock were recovering from injuries. Allen is now a backup with the San Francisco 49ers.
7. Jeff Driskel: 0-1
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Driskel started one game when Lock was injured in 2020 and it didn’t go well. He’s now a backup with the Washington Commanders.
8. Brett Rypien: 2-1
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
Rypien started one game in the place of an injured Lock and two games in the place of an injured Russell Wilson. He is now a backup with the Chicago Bears.
9. Drew Lock: 8-13
(Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Lock had moments of strong play in Denver, but his turnovers often proved to be costly. He was sent to Seattle as part of the Wilson trade and he spent two years as a backup with the Seahawks. Lock is now a backup with the New York Gitans.
10. Kendall Hinton/Phillip Lindsay: 0-1
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
When all four of Denver’s quarterbacks were ruled ineligible to play in Week 12 of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 policy, wide receiver Kendall Hinton was called up from the practice squad to play quarterback that week. Technically, the Broncos had Lindsay line up in a Wild Cat formation for the first play, so Hinton was not officially credited with a QB start, but he was Denver’s QB that day.
Hinton and Lindsay are now both out of the NFL.
11. Teddy Bridgewater: 7-7
(Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports)
Bridgewater was one of Denver’s best quarterbacks since the Manning era, but it still wasn’t enough for the Broncos to get back into playoff contention. After backup stints with the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions, Bridgewater retired from the NFL in February. He now coaches high school football in Miami.
12. Russell Wilson: 11-19
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
The Broncos paid a king’s ransom to acquire Wilson from the Seahawks in 2022 and he ended up starting just 30 games in Denver. Wilson went 4-11 in 2022 and 7-8 in 2023. Payton took on the largest dead money cap hit in NFL history to move on from Wilson this spring. He now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
13. Jarrett Stidham: 1-1
(Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
After the Broncos benched Wilson last year, Stidham started the final two games of the season and split the results. He competed with Nix for Denver’s starting job this summer but wasn’t able to fend off the rookie for QB1 duties.
14. Bo Nix: 0-0
(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)
On paper, Nix seems to be a perfect fit for Payton’s offense. He will make his regular-season NFL debut when the Broncos go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 (Sept. 8). After eight seasons of inconsistent quarterback play, Denver now turns to Nix to get the franchise back on track.
The Broncos have named rookie Bo Nix their starting quarterback for the 2024 NFL season.
The Denver Broncos have named rookie Bo Nix their starting quarterback for the 2024 NFL season, coach Sean Payton announced after Wednesday’s practice.
Nix is now set to start when the team goes on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8. He will become the team’s first rookie quarterback since John Elway to start in Week 1. Nix won the job after competing with Jarrett Stidham (and Zach Wilson) this summer.
Stidham started the team’s preseason opener last week and Nix started their second exhibition game on Sunday night. Through two preseason games, Nix is 23-of-30 passing for 205 yards with two touchdown passes and no turnovers. Stidham is 11-of-18 for 102 yards with no passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
To be fair to Stidham, he does have a rushing score and his first interception was not his fault. Regardless, it’s clear that Nix is the team’s best option.
Broncos coach Sean Payton used the 12th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft to select Nix after the QB set an NCAA record with a 77.45% completion rate at Oregon last fall.
Nix will become Denver’s 14th starting quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2016. Stidham started the team’s final two games last year after the team benched Russell Wilson, who was released this spring.
The Broncos must now decide who will serve as Nix’s backup in 2024. If Denver only carries two QBs on the 53-man roster, one of Stidham or Wilson will be cut or traded next week. The Broncos could bring back the third-string QB on the practice squad if he’s not picked up by another team.
The Broncos need to finalize a 53-man roster next week. These players were the five hardest cuts in our 53-man projection.
One week from today, the Denver Broncos will have until 2:00 p.m. MT to get the squad from 91 players down to a 53-man roster. That means a flurry of roster moves are on deck in Denver, and the team will have to make some tough decisions.
Broncos Wire released an updated 53-man roster prediction yesterday. There were five cuts in particular that were hard to make when projecting the roster.
1. QB Jarrett Stidham: He has performed well in preseason, but the Broncos can save $5 million if he’s released. Stidham is also a vested veteran, so he would not be subject to the waiver wire if cut. Denver could release him to set an initial 53-man roster and make roster claims and then attempt to either re-sign him to the practice squad or bring him back on the active roster after sorting out an initial 53.
2. RB Samaje Perine: Perine is the team’s best blocking and receiving running back, but he’s about to turn 29 and the Broncos will save $3 million if he’s released. Perine would not be subject to waivers, but Denver would be unlikely to get him back on the practice squad with other teams lacking RB depth.
3. WR Jalen Virgil: The Broncos have an extremely crowded wide receiver room, and coach Sean Payton expects a few of the team’s WRs to end up on other teams after roster cuts. Virgil increases his value by bringing his return abilities to the table, but Denver just has too many talented WRs.
4. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey: Although he has the size Payton likes in a receiver, Humphrey also seems likely to get cut. He could be a candidate to return on the practice squad.
5. CB Damarri Mathis: This one might be viewed as a surprise because Mathis is a former fourth-round pick and he competed with Riley Moss for a starting job this summer. The Broncos have a crowded cornerback depth chart, though, and Tremon Smith seems likely to make the team as a key special teams player. That could leave Mathis on the outside looking in.
These are just projections, of course. We will track all of Denver’s actual roster cuts on Broncos Wire next week.
After the game, Stidham was asked if he felt like running back Javonte Williams as he lowered his shoulder to reach the end zone.
“Yeah, everyone kept calling me Lamar Jackson on that sideline,” Stidham said. “I have a long way to go for that. I just saw an open lane and decided to take it and tried to get in the endzone and it worked out.”
With kneel-down stats included, Stidham is credited with 32 carries for 97 yards in his NFL career (four starts). In college, he rushed for 224 yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons (37 games). So it’s something he can do, but it’s certainly not Stidham’s biggest strength.
The good-natured teasing from his teammates reflects the kind of comradery Denver has in the locker room.
“I feel like it hasn’t been like this everywhere I’ve been [and] one thing that I’ll talk about is: I feel like on teams I’ve been on, you kind of hangout with the offensive guys or the defensive guys kind of hangout with the defensive guys,” Stidham said. “But [here], I hang out with offensive guys, specialists, everybody and to me that doesn’t really happen a lot. If you go into the cafeteria at the facility, you see guys sitting with other guys, it’s just a cool community that Sean [Paytton]’s really built.”
Stidham said the Broncos have a close locker room, closer than the other teams he’s been with before landing in Denver last year.
“[W]ith a lot of guys coming back this year, you just naturally get closer,” Stidham said. “One thing we did last year was right after the season was over, the next week there was probably 16 or 17 of us that took a trip to Aspen for a long weekend of just hanging out, dinners, just being guys and again, that doesn’t happen everywhere.”
He’s no Lamar Jackson, but he is loved by his teammates. If he ever gets an opportunity for the first regular-season rushing touchdown of his NFL career with the Broncos, Stidham’s teammates will be there to celebrate.
Bo Nix is widely expected to be named the team’s starter, perhaps as early as this week. Assuming the Broncos only have room for two QBs on the 53-man roster, the question then becomes: Who will serve as Nix’s backup?
Jarrett Stidham has been in the NFL since 2019 and he’s entering his second year in Payton’s offense. Those are his pros — he’s a veteran mentor with good leadership skills and a season of experience with Payton.
Zach Wilson was the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft and while he’s considered a bust for not living up to his draft status, Wilson is three years younger than Stidham, yet he has 29 more career starts than Stidham.
Stidham is who he is at this point in his career. Wilson still has some career upside. Wilson is younger and cheaper, and Payton has praised him this summer.
If the Broncos release Stidham, the team would save $5 million in salary cap space. If Denver cuts Wilson, he would be subject to the NFL’s waiver wire and probably wouldn’t make it back to the practice squad.
Broncos Wire’s projection has Wilson on the 53-man roster over Stidham. Would that be the right move? Let us know your take by voting in our Twitter poll:
If the Broncos carry two QBs on the 53-man roster, who do you want to be QB2?
Before the Broncos play their preseason finale this weekend, here’s an updated 53-man roster prediction.
The Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers 27-2 in their second preseason game of the summer on Sunday. On deck for Denver is a preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals next weekend.
The Broncos currently have 91 players on their roster and they have to get down to a 53-man roster by Aug. 27. Before playing the Packers, Denver coach Sean Payton said there were nine to ten players on the roster bubble.
Ahead of the real cuts next week, we’ve put together an updated 53-man roster prediction for the Broncos. Keep in mind that Denver can build a 17-player practice squad after roster cuts.
Broncos 53-man roster prediction
Quarterback (2)
(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Bo Nix
Zach Wilson
As a fifth-year player, Jarrett Stidham would not be subject to the waiver wire if the Broncos release him. Denver could then, in theory, re-sign him to the practice squad or re-sign him to the active roster after setting an initial 53-man roster and making waiver claims.
Running back (4)
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Javonte Williams
Jaleel McLaughlin
Audric Estime
Blake Watson
Samaje Perine will turn 29 in September and the Broncos can save $3 million if he’s released. Watson, on the other hand, is a 24-year-old rookie who might not clear waivers. If Denver carries four RBs, Watson is our pick over Perine.
Wide receiver (6)
(Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports)
Courtland Sutton
Tim Patrick
Josh Reynolds
Devaughn Vele
Marvin Mims
Troy Franklin
Tim Patrick, please forgive me. My roster projection last week did not have Patrick making the squad, in part because he could go on the practice squad without having to clear waivers. There’s no need for such a scheme, though: Tim Patrick is back and he belongs on the 53-man roster.
Tight end/fullback (5)
(Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)
Adam Trautman
Greg Dulcich
Lucas Krull
Michael Burton (FB)
Nate Adkins (TE/FB)
Some pundits believe Nate Adkins is on the roster bubble, but coach Sean Payton seems to value his role in the offense.
Offensive line (9)
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
OT Garett Bolles
OT Matt Peart
OG Ben Powers
G/C Nick Gargiulo
C/G Luke Wattenberg
C/G Alex Forsyth
OG Quinn Meinerz
OT Mike McGlinchey
OT Alex Palczewski
The offensive line is a position group that could see some serious turnover during roster cuts. It would not be surprising to see Denver make a few claims at the position in an attempt to beef up the line’s depth.
Defensive line (5)
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DE Zach Allen
NT D.J. Jones
NT Malcolm Roach
DE John Franklin-Myers
DL Eyioma Uwazurike
The first four players are locks. Eyioma Uwazurike has returned from his suspension and seems to be on his way to making the squad. Angelo Blackson could be released and re-signed to the practice squad without having to clear waivers because he’s a veteran.
Outside linebacker (4)
(Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
Baron Browning
Jonathon Cooper
Jonah Elliss
Nik Bonitto
Elliss has looked extremely impressive in preseason and it’s easy to imagine him quickly climbing the depth chart.
Inside linebacker (4)
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Alex Singleton
Cody Barton
Jonas Griffith
Justin Strnad
Levelle Bailey is making a push for a spot on the active roster. If he doesn’t make the final 53, Bailey will likely be a top practice squad target.
Cornerback (6)
(Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)
Pat Surtain
Ja’Quan McMillian
Riley Moss
Kris Abrams-Draine
Levi Wallace
Tremon Smith
Ja’Quan McMillian is a promising slot defender. Riley Moss appears to have the CB2 job across from Pat Surtain secured. Kris Abrams-Draine was just drafted this year. Tremon Smith is a key special teams player, and Levi Wallace is a veteran with plenty of starting experience. That could leave Damarri Mathis as a surprise cut.
Safety (5)
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P.J. Locke
Brandon Jones
Devon Key
JL Skinner
Keidron Smith
You can’t leave Keidron Smith off the active roster after the preseason he’s had.
Special teams (3)
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K Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
Riley Dixon and Trenton Gill will get one last chance to win the punter job in the Broncos’ preseason finale. May the best leg win.
Injured (2)
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LB Drew Sanders (Reserve/PUP)
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (Reserve/PUP)
Drew Sanders and Delarrin Turner-Yell seem likely to begin the season on a reserve list, so they won’t count against the initial 53-man roster.
We will track all of Denver’s roster cuts on Broncos Wire next week.
#Broncos QB Battle is wrapping up with Bo Nix looking to be certain starter, competition now for the secondary slot
Although the Denver Broncos picked up additional quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson as a contingency plan in case 2024 draft pick Bo Nix didn’t gel with the offense, things are looking good for Nix after his start versus the Packers in a 27-2 preseason victory.
Head coach Sean Payton praised Nix following the game but maintains he isn’t ready to drop the name of the starter for his fresh offense. Nix is the clear choice, the rookie from Oregon is outperforming Stidham and Wilson who both have already been in the NFL for multiple seasons.
After this second outing, it seems the question that remains is which QB will end up as backup to Nix, Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson? Stidham was backup last season and got called up to start briefly after Russell Wilson was benched.
Zach Wilson is hoping to recover from a tough start to his career. He was brought in to be fresh blood and has delivered a touchdown in the preseason which Stidham hasn’t done, however, his completion percentage hasn’t been stellar in his snaps for the Broncos.
Payton may have a harder time choosing his secondary than he will his starter, this coming game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday will wrap up the preseason and seal the fate of hopeful backups.
