ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Jarrett Stidham looks capable but after five NFL seasons and only four starts, he remains unproven.
The Broncos, in the throes of a quarterback slump not seen since their formative years in the 1960s, will not go into the 2024 offseason with Stidham anointed as the one and only.
He may wind up there but he will have to beat out competition.
After saying goodbye to the disappointing Russell Wilson era, the Broncos and coach Sean Payton figure to double on the quarterback position this offseason -- sign a veteran from free agency and pick up another passer through the draft. Possibly with their No. 12 overall pick in the first round.
There will be quarterback Pro Days to scout and nearly full-day visits at team headquarters before a decision on the rookie quarterback is made.
But first things, first. Free agency.
Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield were to head this year’s free-agent quarterback class, but both were too expensive for the Broncos, whose budget is tight in light of Wilson’s $85 million dead-cap fallout. Mayfield already signed back with Tampa Bay for a deal that is essentially $30 million a year for two years. Cousins is reportedly closing in on a return to Minnesota.
The Broncos did their due diligence on Mac Jones before deciding not to engage in trade talks with New England. Jones was traded to Jacksonville on Sunday for a paltry sixth-round draft pick.
The Broncos don’t have nearly enough draft capital to satisfy for the Bears for a potential Justin Fields trade so that leaves the best of the rest.
Understand, the Broncos may not jump out on the first day of the free-agnecy negotiating period Monday to nab their quarterback. Patience figures to be their approach this offseason. Still, here’s a look at six quarterbacks the Broncos could consider:
Sam Darnold
QB, 26, 49ers
This was the choice of then-Broncos’ general manager John Elway from the impressive quarterback class of 2018. But the Broncos had the No. 5 overall pick and Darnold went No. 3 to the Jets. (The Broncos took edge player Bradley Chubb).
Darnold was a three-year starter for the Jets but 39 interceptions in 38 games sent him to Carolina in a trade. The picks continued in 2021 and an ankle injury plus Mayfield sent him to the bench in 2022. Darnold did take over as starter for the final six games in 2022, though, and may have played his best football.
He just had a season as the 49ers’ backup quarterback where he learned from two of the best in head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese.
In a final game start against the Rams, Darnold played well, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for another in a 21-20 loss.
Of all the free-agent quarterbacks, Darnold figures to have the greatest upside. Then again, they’ve been saying that about him for going on seven seasons.
Ryan Tannehill
35, Titans
If the Broncos are looking for the next Mayfield reclamation project, Tannehill is halfway there. Tannehill has not been good since throwing three interceptions in a first-round, 19-16 playoff loss to the Bengals to cap his 2021 season.
He threw just 4 touchdowns against 7 interceptions in eight starts last season.
Still, Tannehill had two terrific seasons – 2014 with Miami and 2020 with Tennessee – when he was indisputably one of the league’s best quarterbacks.
A chronic ankle injury has limited his playing time the past two seasons. Tannehill will turn 36 by the start of training camp so this is not a quarterback who is trending in the right direction.
Then again, Mayfield was coming off two rough seasons in 2021-’22 before he regained form in Tampa in 2023 and just re-signed a three-year, $100 million contract with the Bucs. To find a quarterback who is experienced, affordable and capable, the Broncos must start with someone who is not on top of his game. Tannehill is there.
Jacoby Brissett
31, Washington
Came off the bench in two late-season games and performed well in both, combining to complete18 of 23 for 224 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He’s been a starter in three of his 8 seasons. Which may be the type of complimentary quarterback Sean Payton wants to pair with Stidham.
Jimmy Garoppolo
32, Raiders
Why not go all in with the Josh McDaniels’ quarterback club? Stidham was drafted in the fourth round by the Patriots and offensive coordinator McDaniels in 2019, then followed McDaniels to the Raiders. Garoppolo was drafted in the second round by the Patriots in the 2014 draft, when McDaniels was their offensive coordinator, and later wound up with McDaniels in Las Vegas.
Garoppolo looked great in the 2023 season opener while defeating the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High, but then threw five interceptions in his next two games and eventually was benched through the second half of the season.
Still, as recently as 2022 he was 7-3 with 16 touchdown passes against just 4 interceptions for Shanahan in San Francisco.
Sam Howell
23, Washington
This would have to be a trade. Which is possible as Washington is certain to nab a quarterback with its No. 2 overall draft pick, be it Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye.
In back-to-back games to open the 2023 season, Garoppolo and Howell looked like Manning and Brady in beating the Broncos in Denver. And then both Garoppolo and Howell fell off drastically once they left Mile High.
Howell finished with a 4-13 record, 21 touchdowns against 21 interceptions and was sacked an alarming 65 times – the fourth most ever in an NFL season.
Still, he was impressive against the Broncos in a 35-33 win, completing 27 of 39 for 299 yards, 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Mason Rudolph
28, Steelers
After an injury to 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett was followed by an ineffective Mitch Trubisky, Rudolph got a chance to redeem what had been a disappointing career – and he delivered. Rudolph went 3-0 in the Steelers’ final three games to carry them to the playoffs, completing 74.3 percent of his passes (55 of 74) for 719 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
Still, 13 starts in six years may not be the type of quarterback you want to pair with Stidham, who has just four starts in five seasons.
Others
Gardner Minshew, Colts; Drew Lock, Seahawks; Jameis Winston, Saints.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Sports