After a rough preseason, the hits keep coming for Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
The New York Giants are on a quest to find some help at the quarterback position in the wake of Jaxson Dart's extremely disappointing, season-ending knee injury. They have Jameis Winston ready to start games for them, but they are looking to add to the position before September ends.
According to a report from ESPN/NFL Network, Broncos backup Jarrett Stidham isn't on the list.
Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham not on Giants' QB trade short list
"Sources told ESPN and NFL Network that the list of quarterbacks includes: free agent Jimmy Garoppolo, Cardinals backup Gardner Minshew II, Vikings reserve J.J. McCarthy, 49ers backup Mac Jones, and Chiefs backup Justin Fields."
via ESPN
It isn't all that surprising that the Giants might consider some free agent quarterbacks before they would consider trading something for Jarrett Stidham, but the idea of trading for players like JJ McCarthy or Justin Fields?
That's a rough look for Stidham.
Stidham got an opportunity to start for the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. As difficult of a task as it was for him to go out there and replace Bo Nix in that moment, it was exactly that: An opportunity.
Although the conditions in the second half of that particular game were miserable, so was Stidham's play. It was a brutal performance after a strong start, and that seemed to bleed into his 2026 preseason performance as well.
Stidham didn't have the strongest showing during the 2026 preseason, getting outplayed at times by 3rd-string quarterback Sam Ehlinger. There was plenty of talk throughout the offseason that the Broncos might even consider moving on from Stidham and simply making Ehlinger the backup to Bo Nix, but nothing ever materialized.
They have kept the QB room together.
And maybe that remains the priority for the Broncos right now. Maybe Stidham isn't even really available. But if the right offer came along, you would also have to think that the Broncos would consider it, especially with $6.5 million in potential cap savings available if they trade Stidham.
The fact that Stidham wouldn't even be on the Giants' radar after the Dart injury is rather telling. With a team in an obvious, desperate, nearly season-long QB situation, wouldn't Stidham have to be considered one of the top options?
Especially given the context of the Broncos keeping three quarterbacks, it would almost seem like the Giants would expect that Stidham would be available for the right price.
Barring an unforeseen change, it doesn't appear he's on their (rather lengthy) short list. And that's a major indictment on his play in the opportunities that we've seen recently. It also doesn't exactly make the Broncos look like they're making the wisest decision by keeping three quarterbacks on the roster, and letting Stidham count over $8 million on this year's salary cap.
We'll see if anything changes by the time the Giants make a move, but Stidham's name not even being mentioned speaks volumes.
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