Broncos fans may hate this 2024 starting QB prediction

Denver Broncos fans may not love what NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated predicted regarding who will start at quarterback for the club in Week 1 next season following the departure of veteran Russell Wilson.

"My sense is Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton feels like Jarrett Stidham can go out and start for him," Breer said about the situation in his latest mailbag. "That doesn’t mean Stidham is going to be the quarterback in 2025, much less five years from now, but I do think it gives Denver some flexibility in how it operates moving forward at the position." 

Payton officially became Denver's head coach in February 2023, and it was suggested as early as the following month that he was essentially waiting for an opportunity to play Stidham over Wilson. 

Stidham made two starts late this past season after Wilson was exiled to the bench. The 27-year-old ultimately completed 40-of-66 passes (60.6 percent) for 496 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. 

Wilson agreed to a team-friendly deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this week.

Breer added that Michigan Wolverines quarterback J. J. McCarthy "has some traits that I think would mesh well with Payton’s offense." 

However, Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic, Luke Easterling of Sports Illustrated and Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports are among knowledgeable individuals who believe Denver or a club such as the Minnesota Vikings will have to trade up to the fifth overall selection in the draft to have a shot at getting either McCarthy or a different top-tier quarterback prospect who falls out of the top four. 

"I don’t think Payton and the Broncos will force anything this year at the position, with a lot of holes on the roster to fill and a rebuild now underway," Breer concluded about a Denver side that finished the 2023 season at 8-9.

It was previously reported that it could cost the New York Giants the sixth overall pick this year and three second-round selections in a trade to move up to choice No. 3. 

While it's unknown what Denver would have to pay to go from No. 12 to No. 5, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports predicted in a mock draft updated on Wednesday that the Broncos would take Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th selection.