Since the retirement of Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos have been in quarterback purgatory.
Russell Wilson was supposed to be the answer to that but even he, after the Broncos pulled off a massive trade to get him, was not long for the role. That begs the question, who is next? How much longer is it going be before this team finds a long-term answer at the most important position on the field?
The player who could easily get the next crack at it will not excite most within Broncos Country. It won't be a sexy pick. But for the reasons listed here, Jarrett Stidham has to be the odds-on-favorite to be the team's next starter.
The Broncos like Jarrett Stidham
That is, Sean Payton, likes Jarrett Stidham. This offseason, it raised some eyebrows when the Broncos gave Stidham, a backup quarterback, such a large deal in free agency. But is it possible that Payton saw this process playing out way back then?
It's entirely possible and even likely.
No matter what Payton says in the media, it's been clear from the beginning that he wasn't big on Russell Wilson and that the two likely clashed behind the scenes on a regular basis. Payton knew he might have to get another quarterback on the field and Stidham was one he saw who could run his offense the way he wants it run.
Stidham finished the 2022 season strong, taking over for Derek Carr in Las Vegas under very similar circumstances. Now it will likely be Wilson who is looking for a new team, the same way Carr did, but this time, Stidham may have a more permanent home.
In this video, Peter King gives his thoughts on the entire situation and agrees that Stidham will be the team's starting quarterback next season.
The Broncos may be quiet in free agency
The Broncos are going to have to deal with the dead money cap hit if they release Wilson, as most expect. Having Stidham already on the roster was always the backup plan.
With that said, the team may not have the resources to look around the market and entertain bringing in a new QB. Guys like Kirk Cousins and Ryan Tannehill will both be unrestricted free agents this offseason, but could command a pretty penny. But there are not a lot of big names that will be available.
Career backups Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett could be out there. Are they better options than Stidham? Perhaps. But are they so much better that you want to go splurge on them when Stidham is already under contract? Probably not.
Stidham gives the Broncos a chance to be thrifty this offseason while still having a guy they feel can help them win. They won seven games this season with Wilson and with improvements in other areas on the roster, Payton will have plenty of reason to believe that Stidham makes them a playoff contender.
Jarrett Stidham can serve as the perfect bridge QB
The Broncos will likely have a pick right in the middle of the first round (currently 14th) so they will probably be out of the running for the likes of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, widely considered the top three quarterbacks in this class.
But the Broncos could still draft a quarterback in the first round or even the second round. J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix, Jr. would be some names to watch in that area.
If the Broncos drafted one of those players, they would clearly be tabbed the quarterback of the future. But that doesn't mean the team would need to start them right from day one and in Payton's offense — one of the most complex in the league — they almost certainly wouldn't.
This would give Stidham the chance to be the teacher or the mentor for that rookie and help the team build a proverbial bridge to the future.
Broncos Country is hungry for a quarterback them makes them feel the way John Elway and Peyton Manning did for so many years, and Payton will be excited to give them one. But he will be quite comfortable rolling with Stidham and not rushing that move.
For these reasons, you can expect Stidham to be the starter wll beyond the season finale against the Raiders this Sunday.