With just two games remaining in the Denver Broncos season, Sean Payton made the decision to bench quarterback Russell Wilson. Essentially a move that put an end to Wilson’s future in Denver.

Credit via Wikipedia

Moving on from a quarterback that was only 11-18 in his two seasons as a Bronco.

That’s football.

Replacing a quarterback that doesn’t fit the coach’s scheme, acquired by the previous regime.

That’s commonplace.

Benching a quarterback as a scapegoat, implying that it wasn’t the coaching, but rather, the execution of the plays.

That happens.

Preferring a cheap quarterback on a rookie contract, over an expensive quarterback that takes up cap room.

That’s strategy.

Replacing a quarterback because he was unwilling to restructure his contract.

That’s business.

Replacing Russell Wilson because he’s 35 years old, has diva-like qualities, or simply because he prefers ad libs and deep balls to checkdowns and screens.

That’s life.

But not having a plan in place after doing it?

That’s stupidity.
That’s absurdity.
That’s lunacy.

But apparently – that’s the reality.

DENVER, COLORADO – DECEMBER 31: Jarrett Stidham #4 of the Denver Broncos looks on during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field At Mile High on December 31, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

• Jarrett Stidham was never intended to be the answer. Stidham may have been a late-round Bill Belichick pick, like Tom Brady. And may have been buried at the back of everyone’s depth chart, like Brock Purdy. But the reality is, he’s just Jarrett Stidham.

A fourth-round backup with just 7 TD passes and 7 INTs over his four-year career.

Stidham wasn’t good enough to start for the Patriots, wasn’t good enough to start for the Raiders, and he’s not good enough for the Blue and Orange.

• It won’t be a high-priced free agent playing quarterback next season. Denver may be able to stretch out the money it owes to Wilson or clear some cap room with a few cuts or restructures, but the Broncos can’t afford another high-priced quarterback anytime soon.

Besides, it would be hard to believe that Sean Payton would replace a healthy, expensive, veteran like Russell Wilson, with an unhealthy, expensive, veteran like Kirk Cousins.

• It won’t be any other NFL free agent quarterbacks either. This year’s star-studded list includes Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, and Mason Rudolph to name a few.

• And despite a solid year in Tampa Bay, it’s hard to see Baker Mayfield as our savior – considering how he’s looked in pretty much every year prior.

• You could see an interest in Kyler Murray if he became available. The Cardinals look to have the second pick in the draft and could easily start the rebuild with Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels by simply cutting Murray and dealing with the financial consequences.

Credit via Larry Brown Sports

But Sean Payton is looking for a cheap, cerebral, coach-loving quarterback that will study his playbook. Murray is none of those things. Besides, we too have financial consequences.

• What about Justin Fields? He’s young (24), talented, and if available for trade, could be picked up for next to nothing. The Broncos could sign him for Tyrod Taylor type money. And even stretch that to an affordable Gino Smith type contract before the kid even turns 30!

But is Justin Fields even an upgrade over Russell Wilson? Can Justin Fields actually throw the ball? And most importantly, will the Bears move on from him and make him available?

• That leaves the Broncos and Sean Payton with the obvious – finding a gem in the NFL Draft.

Quite the combination. The franchise that brought you Drew Lock, Paxton Lynch, and Tim Tebow – combined with Sean Payton, the mastermind that drafted Ian Book (2021) to be the next Drew Brees.

• The good news is that the 2024 NFL Draft is loaded with young quarterback talent including Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (UNC), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Bo Nix (Oregon), Michael Pennix Jr. (Washington), and JJ McCarthy (Michigan).

The bad news is that the Broncos (8-8) are currently projected to draft around number 14, and six teams above them are in desperate need of a quarterback.

The other bad news is that Denver has very little draft capital left in which to move up to better position themselves.

Nice work Sean Payton. You benched our Super Bowl winning quarterback that had 26 TD and just 8 INTs. You beat the hapless Chargers to hurt our draft position. You lied about it being about winning on the field. You apparently schemed with the GM by threatening Wilson’s job if he didn’t restructure. You invited the Player’s Association and Washington Post to start an investigation.

And your backup plan is who?

Credit via Houston Chronicle

Quinn Ewers? Michael Pratt? Sam Hartman?

Russell’s not the only contract that needs restructuring.

Images via larrybrownsports, apnews, houstonchronicle, Wikipedia, nbcsports

Alan Tapley
Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship
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