10 backup options for Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos in 2023

6. Jacoby Brissett (free agent, Browns)

Just like Marcus Mariota, Jacoby Brissett is an option for the Denver Broncos as the backup to Russell Wilson at this point only because he hasn't signed elsewhere yet. He's an option until he's not, right? I get asked a lot about Brissett and I just don't see him coming to the Denver Broncos.

But we do need to bring him up as an option because there's a non-zero chance here at the beginning of March.

Brissett doesn't have a serious connection to Denver as of right now but he does have some significant connections elsewhere in the league that could lead to a starting job in 2023. He's obviously connected to Frank Reich in Carolina having started for him when they were together with the Colts. He has a connection to Las Vegas and Josh McDaniels, who was part of drafting him in 2016 out of NC State. He also has a connection to Cardinals OC Drew Petzing as the two worked together in Cleveland this past year.

Where do the Broncos fall on Brissett's list of possibilities? Likely very low. He showed in Cleveland this past year that he deserves a shot to start in 2023 and I think he will. If the Broncos could land him for a reasonable price?

That would be an absolutely huge pickup but the cost to acquire Brissett is doing to be in the double-digit millions per year, probably on the low-end starter range. Again, he's an option until he isn't, but the likelihood of this happening is close to zero.