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Broncos' GM Issues Telling Update on Team's Unruly QB Situation
The Denver Broncos have remained mostly quiet during the 2024 offseason, but GM George Paton isn't staying complacent.
The 2024 free agency frenzy run on NFL quarterbacks has seemingly come and gone without the Denver Broncos making nary a peep at the position.
Instead, insider reports suggest that HC Sean Payton could remain content with 2023’s two-game finale incumbent, Jarett Stidham, as the starter in 2024. The fifth-year veteran, who’s entering his second season in Denver, currently comprises the two-man Broncos QB room with Ben DiNucci, who spent time on the practice squad last season.
“We’re still in the quarterback market,” Broncos GM George Paton said to the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel. "We like ‘Stiddy,’ but we’re going to add. We’re not panicked. We won’t play games for a while. We feel like we’ll add a veteran, and we’ll see about the draft.”
Sure, it’s the season of lies with the draft approaching in April and perhaps Paton was just posturing at NFL Owner’s meetings earlier this week. After all, every one of the 32 teams is doing their best to out-leverage one another in draft preparations as they attempt to disguise team needs, intentions, and their secretive plans for the draft.
The Broncos currently possess the No.12 overall pick. Since they haven’t added a third QB via free agency or trade, the rampant speculation is that Denver intends to select a first-round signal caller.
Denver is currently on the hook for $85 million in dead money for the next two seasons in the wake of releasing Russell Wilson in addition to paying his $37.8 million salary for 2024. The former Seahawks and Broncos QB signed a veteran minimum one-year deal worth $1.21 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the beginning of free agency.
Paton also hinted at the fact that a potential trade could import a veteran QB. However, trades have already come and gone that have seen QBs change teams: Kenny Pickett (Philadelphia Eagles), Desmond Ridder (Arizona Cardinals), Sam Howell (Seattle Seahawks), and Mac Jones (Jacksonville Jaguars).
Meanwhile, the first few waves of free agency QB musical chairs included Jacoby Brissett (New England Patriots), Marcus Mariota (Washington Commanders), Jimmy Garoppolo (Los Angeles Rams), and Gardner Minshew (Las Vegas Raiders).
Current free-agent QBs available on the open market include Ryan Tannehill, Brian Hoyer, Blaine Gabbert, Carson Wentz, Trevor Siemian, and A.J. McCarron.
The New York Jets are still shopping their disgruntled former-first-round QB Zach Wilson, signaling that there could be a slight chance that ‘Payton & Paton’ continue to monitor the 2021 No. 2 overall draft pick’s status.
As the Broncos continue to host private workouts, attend pro days, and complete their due diligence on first-round QB prospects in the upcoming draft, it’ll be interesting to see if Denver pulls the trigger on acquiring a veteran signal-caller.
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