The quarterback position is obviously going to be a major focus for the Denver Broncos heading into 2023 training camp. Everybody wants to know whether or not Russell Wilson can bounce back under new head coach Sean Payton and every single pass he throws is going to be heavily scrutinized.
And deservedly so after what all transpired last offseason. More on that in a bit.
The Broncos have added to the QB position in 2023, signing Jarrett Stidham to a two-year contract worth a total of $10 million. They also brought in former Dallas Cowboys draft pick Ben DiNucci for a tryout and although Sean Payton jokingly put in a good word for him as a Walmart greeter if football didn't work out, DiNucci made the 90-man roster.
Let's take a comprehensive look at the quarterback position for the Denver Broncos ahead of 2023 training camp with everything you need to know, any battles at this position, and any roster sleepers to be aware of.
Denver Broncos training camp preview: Quarterbacks
Head coach: Sean Payton
Offensive coordinator: Joe Lombardi
Quarterbacks coach: Davis Webb
Passing Game Coordinator: John Morton
Before we look at who is actually playing the quarterback position for the Denver Broncos, we've got to take a look at the brain trust of coaches primarily involved in ensuring the success of this position group. All eyes will be on Sean Payton, the one calling plays, but the trio of Joe Lombardi, Davis Webb, and John Morton will all also be tasked with working together to develop this position group.
The incumbent: Russell Wilson
Yes, the 2022 season was the worst we've ever seen from Russell Wilson as a professional. Nobody expected it, not even Wilson's biggest critics or detractors. When the Denver Broncos acquired Russell Wilson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, more people expected a reincarnation of 2012 Peyton Manning than they did a reincarnation of Case Keenum.
But the 2022 season was that brutal from Russ. Yes, he struggled with injuries. Yes, Nathaniel Hackett was a bad head coach at worst and at best, a bad fit for the Denver Broncos. Yes, the Broncos' offensive line struggled. Yes, there were injuries to key offensive weapons.
All of that factored into Wilson's poor 2022 campaign, but ultimately, he has to take a lot of the blame for the way things went. Of course, at 2023 Denver Broncos training camp, he's got a chance to start earning back the trust of Broncos Country. Many Broncos fans developed a resentment for Russell Wilson in 2022 thanks to the fact that he signed a massive $245 million contract before the season even started.
Wilson's contract, the biggest in Denver Broncos history, was followed up with atrocious QB play and the 32nd scoring offense in the NFL last season, while the Broncos once again sputtered to last place in the division. And they didn't have a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to show for their troubles.
Again, every throw Russell Wilson makes at 2023 training camp will be in focus. And Jarrett Stidham will be nipping at his heels.
Denver Broncos battles at QB in 2023?
Battle for the starter job?
Will there be a battle for the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback position in 2023? Thankfully, the answer to that question is "no", but there's also been a ton of positive publicity surrounding Jarrett Stidham since he signed with the team.
Earlier in the offseason, we were calling for Sean Payton to sign a quarterback in a robust free agency class that had starter potential, and he did exactly that. We were thinking more along the lines of a former first-round pick like Sam Darnold, but Payton came away hugely impressed by what Stidham did at the end of last season, specifically against the 49ers.
Although the Stidham signing has been written off by some as just another backup QB move, the fact that the Broncos gave him pretty decent money is a signal that this team believes in him. Specifically, Sean Payton believes in him. And he said as much throughout the offseason.
Battle for QB3
There's no battle for QB1. There's not even going to be a true "battle" for QB2. That's going to be Jarrett Stidham's job.
But there could be an intriguing battle for QB3. Given the NFL's new roster rule allowing teams to dress an extra quarterback on game days, more teams could spend one of their 53 roster spots on a third quarterback.
The competition the Broncos will have for this position will be between Ben DiNucci and Jarrett Guarantano. DiNucci seems to be the favorite at this point thanks to his actual NFL experience with Dallas and his more recent experience as a starter for the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.
DiNucci was impressive enough at minicamp to earn a roster spot as a tryout player, but he's also going to have competition. Jarrett Guarantano joined the Broncos late last season and spent the 2022 preseason as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.
Denver Broncos sleeper quarterback: Jarrett Guarantano
We know it's going to be Russell Wilson at the top and Jarrett Stidham right below him on the depth chart. So do the Denver Broncos have any true "sleeper" at the quarterback position in 2023?
Depending on how closely you follow the team, I think the clear pick for the guy being slept on in this position group is Jarrett Guarantano.
The offseason story of Ben DiNucci trying out for the team and making it reached a lot of Broncos fans, so people might even be rooting for him to make it at this point. And understandably so. He's an interesting young player with upside who has shown some playmaking abilities.
But nobody is really talking about Jarrett Guarantano right now. A former four-star recruit for the Tennessee Volunteers football program, Guarantano entered the college ranks with high expectations and loads of talent. Despite that, the last even solid season Guarantano had at the collegiate level statistically was all the way back in 2019. He only played seven games in 2020 and transferred to Washington State in 2022 where he only played in two games and threw three interceptions.
It's almost miraculous that Guarantano even got a shot in the NFL in the first place, but the physical tools have always been there. If you ask Tennessee fans, they probably can't believe Guarantano is still on an NFL roster.
it's going to be fascinating to see how the offseason transpires for him since the Broncos' pro scouting department obviously identified traits they liked in last year's preseason.
Overall outlook for Denver Broncos QBs in 2023
There are plenty of questions surrounding this position group for the Denver Broncos in 2023.
Can Russell Wilson rebound? Is he "cooked"? Can Sean Payton make that big of a difference? Will Jarrett Stidham be good enough if Russell Wilson isn't? Will the Denver Broncos finally get out of QB purgatory?
I have maintained over the course of the last nine months that there's simply no way Russell Wilson just became "this bad" overnight. Wilson had been a top 10 QB for the majority of his time with the Seahawks. Even if you consider Russ a beneficiary of a great defense and Pete Carroll, he still played at a higher level than anything the Broncos have seen the last 7 years.
But what happened to that guy? Were injuries really the primary issue last year? Was Hackett really the primary issue last year? Did Russ just have the yips?
If it weren't for his contract situation, I think the question of whether or not Russell Wilson would still be the Broncos' QB right now is an interesting one. At any rate, the Broncos are stuck in this situation for the time being, and sticking it out with Russ might end up being really good for the future of the team.
I am buying what Sean Payton is selling regarding Jarrett Stidham as a future starter as well. Stidham has shown some nice flashes in his NFL career, more than just what we saw last year with the Raiders. He impressed in the chances he got with the Patriots as well. I think he raises the floor of the room overall for Denver.
Ben DiNucci and Jarrett Guarantano present decent enough upside for the QB3 position and if you're asking me right now whether I think the Broncos keep a QB3, I think the answer is yes. The real question is -- who?
DiNucci has got to be the favorite at the moment, but you've also got to include the field and guys outside of the Broncos' roster right now that could be considered. If I had to guess who the Broncos' QB3 was going to be, I'd put it at about 40 percent DiNucci, 40 percent "the field", and 20 percent Guarantano.
This position group will be under a ton of scrutiny until someone is able to get it right.