Russell Wilson is set to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, but we still don’t know who the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback will be next season. Right now, the leading candidate is Jarrett Stidham, and with Ben DiNucci as the only other QB on the roster, you can bet GM George Paton will add at least one extra option to the depth chart before the season kicks off.
The biggest question is, who?
Being that they’ve been quiet in free agency, the assumption is that the Broncos are angling to try and find their QB of the future in the 2024 NFL Draft. Yet, since they hold the 13th pick, just behind Minnesota and just ahead of Las Vegas, there’s no guarantee the Broncos land the QB they want, at least in the first round.
This could prompt Sean Payton to turn back to free agency to find his next starting QB. But Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes there’s still a Pro Bowl quarterback who could land in Denver this offseason.
“Presuming that playing time is the goal, I think Denver would be the team that makes most sense (to sign Ryan Tannehill). While Sean Payton likes Jarrett Stidham, the coach also likes having a sort-of second offensive coordinator taking snaps for him, and so Tannehill’s experience and knowhow would appeal to him. And if the Broncos can’t position themselves to draft a quarterback, it’s hard to imagine Stidham having an endless leash as starter.”
NFL insider on Denver Broncos landing Ryan Tannehill
Adding someone like Tannehill may not come until after the first day, or possibly even the first two days of the 2024 NFL Draft concludes. The soon-to-be 36-year-old QB may strongly prefer to wait and pick the team that offers him the best chance to play. If the Broncos strike out during the draft, pivoting to a player with 151 career starts and five more in the playoffs might not be a bad backup plan.
Meanwhile, getting a chance to win the starting job has to appeal to Tannehill. But signing now, only to see Denver draft a quarterback early on wouldn’t make much sense, if he’s prioritizing a chance to play.
Related: 8 Denver Broncos QB solutions for 2024, including one surprising option