10 backup options for Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos in 2023

5. Marcus Mariota (free agent, Falcons)

Have you noticed a theme with the top five guys on this list? Only one of them was picked lower than third overall in their respective draft class (Heinicke, undrafted). There are players who were taken with the top three picks in the NFL Draft who are 30 or younger hitting free agency at the game's premium position.

Those are the types of upside moves you should be willing to make as a general manager, and I think George Paton will look to do so in the 2023 offseason. The Denver Broncos need a quality backup behind Russell Wilson, but is Marcus Mariota -- who did pretty well as a 13-game starter for the Falcons last year -- willing to take a guaranteed backup job in 2023?

I seriously doubt it. But he's among the possibilities as of right now and you may have already guessed, but he's also got a connection in Denver. Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton -- who was with Detroit this past year -- was previously on the offensive staff with the Raiders (2019, 2021). Mariota was Derek Carr's backup in 2020 and 2021, so Morton is a clear connection between Mariota and the Broncos.

Again, the biggest question here is whether Mariota would even want to take a backup job again after getting benched for Ryan Tannehill in 2019 and paying his dues with the Raiders for two seasons. There will be clearer paths to playing time than in Denver, but if Mariota is willing to come to Denver, he's undoubtedly one of the top options.