The Denver Broncos The competition for the quarterback spot is over. First-round rookie Bo Nix – the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – will take the field with the others in the Broncos’ regular-season opener.
Nix was always the favorite to start because the Broncos spent a lot of money to draft the quarterback. Additionally, since he was head coach Sean Payton’s only first-round quarterback during his tenure as head coach, Nix would have had to give up his job on the field entirely to not be a starter.
Not only did Nix not “lose” his starting spot, he went out and claimed it. His play on the field, his maturity in preparation, and the way his teammates reportedly react to him suggest that the Broncos have found a QB1 for the foreseeable future.
While the battle for the starting quarterback spot in Denver is over, and with it Nix’s preseason is over, as he and the others are not expected to be on the field in the team’s final preseason game, the battle for the No. 2 starting quarterback spot is still in full swing.
Not only is the ranking between Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson not yet decided, it is also uncertain whether both will make the squad, as the team will be reduced to its last 53 players by Tuesday, August 27. With the assignments thus determined, Eric Edholm of NFL.com also focuses on the battle of the Broncos’ backup quarterbacks as the duel in the final preseason game in Denver.
“With rookie Bo Nix named the Broncos’ Week 1 starter, the question now turns to how many quarterbacks Sean Payton will put on the roster. Is there room for Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson? Earlier this summer, Payton said all three could ‘possibly’ stay. Both reportedly had encouraging summers in practice, and while neither looked great against the Packers, Wilson was probably the better of the two this preseason — even with the woeful safety against Green Bay. Maybe he can shine again this preseason and improve his chances of a roster spot — or maybe force a team in need of a quarterback to inquire,” Edholm wrote.
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When it comes to the backup quarterback, there are many different considerations. Does a team want to have a reliable veteran on the team who knows the offense and can serve as an extra pair of eyes in meeting rooms and on the sidelines?
A quarterback with a high floor who can help an offense for a short period of time when a starter misses a series of games? Considering how small the margins are in the NFL, a backup quarterback who is pushed into the starting lineup for four games and goes 2-2 instead of 0-4 can make or break an entire season.
On the other hand, there is a lot to be said for youth and potential, especially given that Denver has one of the best offensive players in football in Sean Payton, as well as up-and-coming quarterback coach Davis Webb. Perhaps a calculated risk in going with the former top draft pick (Wilson) could pay off far more for the organization than going with the veteran and incumbent (Stidham), who is rated as less promising/higher.
If one has to judge the odds, Wilson is clearly behind Stidham for the backup quarterback position. With Stidham starting in the first preseason game and second in Game 2, and Wilson starting last in both matchups, he seems to be the team’s preferred option.
On the field, Stidham completed 11 of 18 passes for 102 yards with two interceptions (one clearly by running back Samaje Perine, the other a deflected ball straight into the air) and a rushing touchdown, while Wilson completed 12 of 19 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Stidham’s start in Game 1 was marked by mistakes around him while Wilson moved the ball with relative ease. While neither quarterback looked great in Game 2, Wilson showed some processing lag in going through his reads and staying in the pocket too long, something that plagued his first three years in the NFL. Neither quarterback was a complete disaster, but neither was as different from the other as Nix did with Stidham and Wilson.
Since the battle appears to be close, releasing Stidham will likely be the option if Denver is forced to trade one of the quarterbacks for roster reasons. Denver would save $5 million on the salary cap by releasing Stidham, leaving only $2 million on the salary cap.
Wilson would save the Broncos just over $2.7 million in salary cap space without incurring a dead cap. Would the difference of $3.2 million in savings be critical for Denver? Probably not, but with Denver facing $67.8 million in dead cap space this season, every dollar could count in the final calculation.
In the end, the Broncos may have to find a way to keep both Stidham and Wilson. Stidham seems to be an extension of the coaching staff and is popular with the people around the team, and Wilson’s arm talent and rescue project may be too tempting for Denver. Regardless, both will get another chance to prove they deserve the backup quarterback role and a spot on the roster in Sunday’s final preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals.
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