Broncos' New QB Depth Chart Reflects Sean Payton's Philosophy

How Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton views quarterback Russell Wilson has been one of the most hyper-speculated topics of the 2023 offseason. Does Payton see the nine-time Pro Bowl version just waiting to be jump-started, or the alarming 2022 Wilson, who looked like a QB trodding dangerously close to the edge of being washed?

Since setting up shop in Denver, Payton hasn't done much to help answer the question with his remarks on Wilson. The venerated offensive coach has complimented Wilson's competitiveness and mobility while pointing to the QB's skins on the wall from his decade in Seattle, but he hasn't gone out of his way to shower him with praise.

But that's Payton's style. He's a student and practitioner of the Bill Parcells School of Football Psychology.

Denver's new head coach is one of the best there is at using a lot of words to say very little. Consider Payton an expert in 'coach-speak.'

For such high-level operators, it's best to follow what they do — more than what they say. What Payton has done since assuming command at Broncos HQ is acquire three additional quarterbacks in one form or another.

Let's examine these quarterbacks and take a stab at what the Broncos' depth chart might look like with rookie minicamp rapidly approaching this week.

QB1: Russell Wilson

Wilson enters Year 2 as a Bronco with a head coach he's been pining for dating back years. After establishing himself as one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks over a highly-decorated decade in Seattle, Wilson's first year in Denver was mostly forgettable.

Forget the off-the-field stuff and how he became a National Lampoon as a result. Wilson's play in 2022 was alarming. In 15 starts, he finished with 3,524 passing yards and 16 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He completed a career-low 60.5% of his passes and a QB rating of 84.4, also the worst of his career.

However, Wilson was sacked a lot. The Broncos relinquished 55 sacks, and while Wilson invited many of them, the blocking upfront and overall schematic impetus were the primary culprits.

Hence, after watching the 2022 film, which he called a painful process, Payton quickly diagnosed what actions the Broncos need to take to bring Wilson back from the brink of obscurity, rebuild his confidence, and get him back on the horse.

It starts with the offensive line and bolstering the running game. Payton will be looking to put his own spin on the offensive strategems that worked so well for Wilson all those years in Seattle.

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QB2: Jarrett Stidham

The Broncos signed Stidham to a two-year, $10 million deal back in March. This is the first hand-picked QB by Payton, and it's worth examining what the coach coveted in Stidham.

Payton focused in on the Las Vegas Raiders' final two games last season, which Stidham started in place of a deposed Derek Carr. Payton was highly impressed by Stidham's performance against San Francisco's top-ranked defense in Week 17, where he passed for 365 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions.

“I think he played well in the two starts he had this year," Payton said in March. "If you study closely the San Francisco game, he’s smart at the line of scrimmage. There were a couple of directions really with that position and there were a handful of No. 2’s that either I have worked with, or we felt comfortable with. In this case, I think he’s a No. 2 whose arrow is moving in a direction where we feel like he can become an NFL starter in our league."

Make no mistake: What Payton said about viewing Stidham as a starting-caliber QB is noteworthy and there's no doubt that Wilson picked up on those remarks. Payton believes that he's got a guy who can handle his business and operate the Broncos' offense in the event that Wilson fails to launch in 2023.

"The evaluation was pretty crystal clear for all of us," Payton said. "I think he's someone that's going to be great in the room. He's smart. Quietly, that was an important sign for us.”

QB3: Jarrett Guarantano

Guarantano went undrafted out of Washington State last year, initially signing with the Arizona Cardinals as a college free agent. He was waived in the final roster cutdowns, re-signed to Arizona's practice squad, then eventually released in October. The Broncos signed him to the practice squad in early December.

The previous coaching regime liked Guarantano enough to promote him to the 53-man roster later that month, signing him to a two-year contract. The decision was spurred, in part, by "competition" from other teams looking to swoop him off Denver's practice squad.

Guarantano, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, spent the preseason in Arizona, finishing 17-of-30 for 232 yards and three touchdowns. It's unclear how Guarantano is viewed by Payton.

Time will tell.

Try-Out: Ben DiNucci

The Broncos invited DiNucci to rookie minicamp on a try-out basis. The kid led the XFL in passing as the Seattle Sea Dragons' quarterback.

Drafted in 2020 in the seventh round by the Dallas Cowboys, the James Madison University product would go on to appear in three games as he bounced between the practice squad and active roster. The Cowboys waived him last August.

DiNucci then landed with the Sea Dragons later in the fall. He's a 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback whose 374 passing attempts, 272 completions, 2,671 passing yards, and 305 QB rushing yards led the XFL. His 23 passing touchdowns finished second in the league.

Over 10 starts, DiNucci also tossed a league-high 13 interceptions. But he went 7-3 as a starter.

There's something about DiNucci Payton likes. We'll see if the kid can do enough at rookie minicamp to garner an extended audition on the 90-man roster.

Try-Out: Judd Erickson

The Broncos will host Erickson for a try-out at rookie camp as well. Although he finished his college tenure at San Diego, Erickson started it in Fort Collins at Colorado State.

Appearing in four games for San Diego last year, Erickson went 23-of-43 for 343 yards and three touchdowns. He's a 6-foot-4, 225-pound prospect who went to Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, CO.

There's not much known about this kid, so it'll be interesting to see whether he can make any hay during his try-out in Denver.

Bottom Line

Of the five quarterbacks listed, Payton inherited two of them. Payton also said bye-bye to Brett Rypien, Wilson's backup last year. We'll see if Guarantano can fend off the likes of DiNucci and Erickson, but let's be real: the contenders here are Wilson and Stidham.

Stidham has a long way to go before even approaching a fraction of Wilson's accomplishments. But Stidham does have momentum on his side and arrives as Payton's hand-picked QB.

If reports are true — and Wilson is truly ticked off about his play last year — it's hard to see a QB of his talent, experience, and work ethic fail to catch fire under the wise hand of Payton. In all likelihood, any intrigue the Broncos' quarterback depth chart currently offers will become a footnote in history, as Wilson takes to Payton's coaching like a duck to water.

"I know his makeup. Playing with him all those years, there are not too many people as competitive as Russell Wilson,” former Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright told Denver7's Troy Renck last month. “I know he’s very upset about what he put on film last year. He’s gotta get it right this year. He will get it right. This is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business. And Russell understands that."

Stay tuned.

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