The Denver Broncos certainly have a situation on their hands, and it is getting out of control, quickly.
With the news that quarterback Russell Wilson has been benched for the remaining two weeks, that report was followed up with another one that said the team is going to release the former Seahawks star this coming March.
We don't have to go into all of the details of just how bad this trade has panned out, or all of the dead money Denver is going to eat. Most of the fans understand -- this is a catastrophic series of events for the franchise.
All they can do is move on at this point, and if they want to do it fast, these five quarterbacks should be at the top of the Broncos' wish list for 2024.
1. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears, via Trade
First up is a possible trade candidate in the Chicago Bears' Justin Fields. For weeks now, we've seen plenty of reports, rumors and whispers around what the Bears could, should and will eventually do with the former first-round pick.
If they finish with the no. 1 pick, the Bears very well could trade Fields and select Caleb Williams out of USC. If Fields is available, then Denver should be in the conversation. Clearly, the Bears have not put Fields in the best position to succeed thus far. Coaching has been a major problem.
That would change in Denver, with Sean Payton. Fields has been the most dynamic rushing quarterback in the league over the past couple of seasons and has also shown some things as a passer. If the Broncos could make a move for him, they'd be right back in the thick of the AFC West.
2. Jayden Daniels, LSU, 2024 NFL Draft Prospect
Speaking of quarterbacks with a dual-threat skill set, LSU's Jayden Daniels is going to see his draft stock continue to rise. The closer we get to April's draft, the further up draft boards he's going to go. The Heisman Trophy was only the beginning for those who might not have followed his season.
If you're not too familiar with college prospects, Daniels played quarterback in the toughest conference in the nation, the SEC. He put up video game numbers while doing so. Playing defenses that send the most players to the NFL each year, Daniels made them look silly. He threw for over 3,800 yards, 40 touchdowns and only four interceptions while also rushing for over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns.
That's a total of nearly 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns while playing against the nation's most difficult opponents. There is a reason he won the Heisman. It was no contest. He was clearly the best player in the country, unless you ask Marvin Harrison Jr., of course.
If the Broncos are ready for a rookie quarterback, and Sean Payton is primed to develop him, then Daniels would certainly be a great option and could be had where Denver is currently picking at no. 14. The excitement he'd bring to this offense might know no bounds. His ceiling might be the highest of any quarterback in this draft.
3. Kirk Cousins, 2024 Free Agent
Should the Broncos decide to go the route of a veteran via free agency, then there's only one guy worth targeting: Kirk Cousins. Now, the Minnesota Vikings are missing him dearly at the moment, and for all the fans wanting the team to go in a different direction, the state of the team might be swaying them back toward wanting Minnesota to keep Cousins on board, now.
Cousins has been a very good quarterback for many years now. The 35-year-old has thrown for 4,000 yards in seven different seasons and was well on his way to another one this year, if he didn't get hurt.
Cousins is your typical pocket passer who can dice up defenses if given good enough protection, although he's had some phenomenal seasons with subpar offensive line play -- both in Washington and Minnesota. The thing that's kept him as good as he's ever been is the privilege of playing with Justin Jefferson, and now, Jordan Addison.
In Denver, Cousins would have Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy as his top options, which are more than good enough for Cousins to have success with. Cousins is a "win now" type of guy at this stage in his career, and the Broncos would have to convince him that they are ready to do so.
4. Drake Maye, North Carolina, 2024 NFL Draft Prospect
Back to the 2024 NFL Draft, and now looking at scenarios where the Broncos would have to trade up, let's talk about North Carolina's Drake Maye. Some experts have Maye as the no. 1 quarterback in the class, which might have sounded crazy a year ago. But, Maye does look every bit of your prototypical quarterback.
At 6-foot-4, 232 pounds, Maye has your ideal build for the position. Come time for the NFL Combine, you might end up falling in love with Maye's arm more so than any other quarterback in the class. He throws the ball with excellent velocity and really lets it rip. He can 'make all of the throws," as they say.
To go along with his NFL-caliber arm, Maye also possesses some mobility. He's able to escape the pocket and make throws on the run, but also make plays with his legs when needed. He's rushed for over 1,100 yards in the last two seasons with the Tar Heels while scoring 16 touchdowns, as well.
One other thing you like to see from up-and-coming quarterbacks is the talent of throwing with anticipation, and Maye does that pretty well. A lot of quarterbacks cannot see the route breaking before it actually breaks, but Maye makes those throws routinely. He understands where to place the ball and trusts his receivers to be there.
5. Caleb Williams, USC, 2024 NFL Draft Prospect
Finally, we come to the guy that most still believe will be the first overall pick. USC quarterback Caleb Williams, like Maye, is a guy the Broncos would have to trade up to get. In either situation, whether it be Maye or Williams, Denver would have to sacrifice multiple first-round picks -- again.
This past season, questions emerged around Williams' maturity, both on the field and off the field, especially emotionally. He's definitely appeared to be a player in today's social media type of society, so that could be the one major red flag.
But, when it comes to football, Williams looks special on a regular basis. He can not only make all of the throws, but he moves in a special way. He almost looks like he has shades of Patrick Mahomes with the way he escapes and makes plays from what looked like nothing.
The 2022 Heisman winner didn't have as good a season as he had last year, but Williams still made plenty of plays and has done enough to warrant the top pick. The question is, would he be worth it for Denver?