New NFL Rumors on Jarrett Stidham’s Trade Market, Top Potential Landing Spots for Broncos QB
Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham is reportedly attracting some trade interest this offseason.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported Wednesday that “teams have reached out to the Broncos” about Stidham before the trade window opens March 11.
Stidham will turn 30 in August. He is signed through next season at an $8 million cap hit and is set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2027, per Spotrac.
One potential landing spot for Stidham could be the New York Jets.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini recently named Stidham as a name to watch for the Jets, who he wrote want to sign two veteran quarterbacks while “focusing on cost-effective backups/stop-gap starters.”
Other teams potentially in need of a backup next season include the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals, all of whom are potentially losing QB2 options to free agency.
Stidham’s lone start of the 2025 season took place in the AFC Championship, when he took over for an injured Bo Nix in a 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots.
Stidham finished out the loss having gone 17-for-31 with 133 passing yards and two plays that led directly to touchdowns for either side, including a 52-yard touchdown pass for the Broncos and a lost fumble that resulted in a Patriots touchdown.
The Broncos’ offense was unable to get much going after that second-quarter Patriots touchdown. The New England defense held Stidham and his unit to just 32 offensive yards in the second half.
Stidham, who was initially drafted by the Patriots as a fourth-round pick in 2019, spent stints as a backup in New England and with the Las Vegas Raiders before signing with the Broncos ahead of the 2023 season.
He has since spent three seasons with the Broncos, making seven regular-season appearances (two starts) as a backup to Russell Wilson or Nix.
Nix and Stidham are the only quarterbacks currently under contract with the Broncos next season.
Whether Broncos general manager George Paton seriously considers a backup change could depend on how much quarterback prices rise in a relatively limited market this offseason.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently wrote that the Broncos were one of multiple teams testing the market for veteran backups in the weak quarterback market, a list which Graziano reported includes the Chicago Bears (Tyson Bagent), Philadelphia Eagles (Tanner McKee), Tennessee Titans (Will Levis) and Houston Texans (Davis Mills).
Whether or not Stidham returns to play behind Nix next season, the Broncos are in for some major changes on offense after falling short of Super Bowl LX this winter. Broncos head coach Sean Payton recently announced his intention to give up his longtime play-calling duties so that offensive coordinator Davis Webb can take over the role.
