5 Late-Round QBs for Broncos to Upgrade Jarett Stidham

The Broncos are looking for additional quarterback help, and one of these five quarterbacks can add some competition.

The quarterback position is the most crucial in football, and as it stands, the Denver Broncos are searching for a long-term answer. Jarrett Stidham is the projected starter for this upcoming season, and he only has four total starts in his four-year career. That's not exactly very promising coming out of the disaster that has been the past decade. 

Whether they find a quarterback of the future early in the draft or pick up a developmental player to help fill the room, the Broncos desperately need to address the position in this year's draft.

Oct 28, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tulane Green Wave quarterback Michael Pratt (7) throws a pass

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Michael Pratt | Tulane

Pros:

An efficient quarterback with better athleticism than credited for, Pratt is a developmental quarterback with spot-start upside at the NFL level. He processes the game very well before the snap and makes good decisions with the football, showing enough velocity change on his passes to layer throws to all three levels of the field. His arm is strong enough to make any NFL throw, but there is some concern about fitting tight window throws against faster defensive backs. He has good pocket awareness, can move around well enough to escape, and can move the football with his legs if needed. 

Cons:

Post-snap processing and working through reads gives Pratt some fits, and his timing can get wonky. The lack of top-flight velocity and arm strength causes slowing issues for his receivers, which can narrow passing windows and close separation down the field. Though a capable mover, Pratt lacks the elite athleticism to be a true play-creator. Some footwork issues under pressure cause some of his passes to sail on him. 

My Grade: 5th Round

Erick Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 160

Oct 28, 2023; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis

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Jordan Travis | Florida State

Pros:

Resilient and tough, Jordan Travis is a quality football thrower with good arm strength. He’s a plus athlete for the position, capable of creating plays with his legs and throwing accurately on the run. He trusts his playmakers to make plays for him and isn’t scared to take chances with the football. Travis shows good pocket presence and escapability on his tape and uses his legs well to keep the chains moving. While some development is needed, the traits are there for him to become a high-quality backup and potential spot starter at the next level. 

Cons:

Travis struggles to play with anticipation and touch and needs to be faster when processing information post-snap. While it is nice to see him trust his playmakers, he needs to do a much better job playing with timing and accuracy rather than chucking the ball up for grabs to players with NFL potential. He can get a little overwhelmed by pressure, and he tends to take off too early and not allow the play to develop in front of him. Travis also missed time with a leg injury late last season, but he should be ready to go by the start of training camp.

My Grade: 5th Round

Trickel’s Big Board Position: 289

Sep 17, 2022; Pasadena, California, USA; South Alabama Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley (2) sets

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Carter Bradley | South Alabama

Pros:

A developmental quarterback with a great toolbox and a prototypical build, Bradley is a player that quarterback coaches around the league will be drooling to work with. The son of former NFL head coach Gus Bradley, Carter Bradley has a nice football IQ and a good sense of when to get rid of the football. He feels pressure coming, finds his check-downs quickly, and has just enough running ability to keep the play alive if he can break contain. Bradley possesses a plus-level arm capable of hitting throws at all three levels of the field and even finds some tight windows at times. 

Cons:

Despite his high football IQ, Bradley has a slower processor after the snap and could be clearer going through his reads. His footwork is erratic in his drop and throwing base, causing major accuracy issues. He does seem to have a sense of finding his check-downs too quickly, and he needs help controlling his velocity to add touch when required. Bradley won’t be considered a play-creator by any stretch of the imagination, and he needs to play with much better anticipation over the middle of the field. 

My Grade: 6th Round

Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 248

Nov 4, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Sam Hartman (10)

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Sam Hartman | Notre Dame

Pros:

A quality playmaker who thrives out of structure, Hartman can throw on the run. He has a fast processor and can snap off throws in the quick game with good timing and accuracy, and he shows a nice touch to layer throws down the field. He is short but nicely built for his size, and he shows a great work ethic and competitiveness to keep plays going. 

Cons:

Arm strength and overall accuracy desperately hurt his tape, and there are a lot of turnovers and turnover-worthy plays as well. Hartman has sloppy footwork working through his progressions, causing timing and accuracy issues over the middle of the field. Though he processes well and can get the ball out quickly, Hartman relies on getting the play extended to be effective consistently, which will turn teams off that focus on working in the structure of the offense. 

My Grade: 7th Round

Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 278

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Austin Reed (16) throws the ball as Auburn Tigers take on

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Austin Reed | Western Kentucky

Pros:

Coming from an Air-Raid style of offense, Reed has a massive amount of passing attempts on his two-year resume as a starter. He possesses a good processor and throws with great timing, especially over the middle of the field. His pocket presence to slide around and create open throwing lanes is fun to watch, and he isn’t scared to throw back over the middle of the field when on the move. Reed has a nice touch and decent accuracy when working from a good base, though there are inconsistency issues in that aspect of his game. 

Cons:

Reed lacks arm talent and strength, and his accuracy is erratic. His footwork is constantly a mess. In several passes, he sees the nose of the ball drop down and fall short. He isn’t a threat to use his legs outside of extending plays, and he can make terrible decisions with the football. There are way too many throws off his back foot, even when not under pressure, and he doesn’t have the necessary arm strength to have that club in his bag. 

My Grade: Undrafted Free Agent

Trickel’s Big Board Position: No. 194

With the way the Russell Wilson situation played out, it became dramatically apparent that Sean Payton wants a quarterback who processes the game well and plays within the structure of the offense. The natural fit with these players is Pratt, who processes the game well enough to work within the first read of the offense and deliver with timing. Although he doesn’t have the best arm strength, Pratt can make any throw on the field. Given time to learn the offense, Pratt could be a quality backup for this team, step in and start if needed.