Position by position wish list for Denver Broncos in Free Agency

Quarterback

Gardner Minshew 

The backup quarterback position is one of the underrated groups that the Denver Broncos will need to strongly consider this go around. Brett Rypien certainly can make this interesting as he did last season in the preseason. However, the crop of players in free agency appears to be deep for Denver to upgrade the position behind Russell Wilson. Also, Denver doing this will not take them out of the conversation of drafting a quarterback in the 2023 Draft. 

Gardner Minshew deservedly should be a starter for some teams, but at this point in his career, a backup seems to be the best solution for him. If Denver wants to bring a true completion for Wilson in 2023 a player like Minshew would be a smart bet. Coming from Washington State and the late Mike Leach offense Minshew was part of an aerial attack there and showed solid mobility as a quarterback. He also displayed the same charisma as Baker Mayfield. 

Minshew started a few games with Jacksonville, but due to Trevor Lawrence proving to be a long-term answer, it was only a matter of time before Minshew’s time was up there. He later signed with Philadelphia Eagles thinking there’d be an opportunity for him, but Jalen Hurts blew that chance for Minshew. So now at this point, Minshew may just be a career backup which is frustrating because he deserves to start somewhere.

Baker Mayfield

Once the number one pick in the draft and alleged franchise quarterback in Cleveland, Baker Mayfield will once again be a name to follow in this off-season as he will be a backup or a starter for teams in 2023. There’s a common denominator with both Mayfield and Gardner Minshew. It is that both should be a starter somewhere in the league. 

It was once upon a time when the Denver Broncos would have loved to have drafted Mayfield with their fifth overall selection. However, as the process went on, it was apparent he was never going to be there. Mayfield brought Cleveland Browns out of the ashes and had injury after injury. Once the injuries started piling up, he was never himself. Mayfield started having questionable decision-making and was never himself.

Mayfield was released by the Browns in hopes to have a change of scenery. He would sign with Los Angeles Rams and Sean McVay. Mayfield then proceeded to play exceptionally well in that McVay offense. Efficiency was back, decision-making returned for Mayfield. The question for Mayfield is just, did he do enough to be a starter somewhere else? That’s ultimately the question. 

For now he would be a solid backup behind Russell Wilson. 

Jameis Winston 

The Denver Broncos can go a variety of different directions with a backup quarterback and both may also be on the table. Denver’s interest in a backup should not in any way take them out of the conversation of drafting a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. The goal is to make the room better with depth and overall quality at quarterback. This will be the first time in a long time that Denver can truly say there will not be QB controversy, but the backup depth should be addressed. 

This is why we looked at likes Gardner Minshew and Baker Mayfield as it relates to having the best possible quarterback room for the team. Jameis Winston is yet another option for the Broncos to consider as a backup to Russell Wilson. Winston was a former top draft pick. A quarterback who should have been a franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, circumstances have led to a different career path right now for Winston. Winston still may be a starter in the NFL, but right now his best course of action is being a backup. 

Winston has proven to be a solid “in a pinch” starting quarterback, but he still lacks the decision-making to be considered a full-time starter. However, Winston's best career choice has been with head coach Sean Payton in New Orleans. Before Winston went down to injury, he played the Saints to a 5-2 record in 2021. That was also Payton’s last year as head coach in New Orleans. 

The moral of the backup quarterback story with these options is that Payton does not shy away from bringing in high-profile quarterbacks as reclamation projects. Winston is an example of that kind of player. Maybe this does open the door for a Baker Mayfield in Denver. This also could mean Gardner Minshew is that option for backup. Like Winston, it would not be a surprise to see Payton bring in a popular name as a backup.