The Denver Broncos stand at a crucial crossroads in their journey to rebuild a winning culture, and one respected NFL insider believes the path forward is crystal clear: invest fully in their “dynamic” \$18 million quarterback. With the 2025 season rapidly approaching and expectations mounting in the Mile High City, the call to action is bold—build around the QB who could define the next era of Broncos football.
The quarterback in question? Jarrett Stidham. Once viewed as a career backup, the former Auburn standout now finds himself in a position of immense opportunity and pressure. With a cap hit of \$7 million this season and a total value of \$18 million across two years, Stidham isn’t just a placeholder—he’s being considered a potential long-term solution. That’s the message being echoed by NFL Network’s James Palmer, who recently challenged the Broncos’ front office to commit fully to the 27-year-old signal caller.
“Stidham’s got the tools, the temperament, and the untapped upside,” Palmer said on air. “He’s a guy who teammates believe in, coaches respect, and who’s shown flashes of something special. If you’re Denver, you owe it to yourself to see what happens when you build around him—truly build around him.”
Stidham’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. A fourth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 2019, he spent years learning behind Tom Brady and later Cam Newton before being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. It was there that he flashed his potential in two late-season starts, earning praise for his poise, arm talent, and quick decision-making.
When the Broncos signed him in 2023, it was initially seen as a depth move behind Russell Wilson. But as Wilson’s struggles continued and Sean Payton’s vision for the offense began to diverge from the aging star’s playing style, Stidham’s presence grew more important. By the end of the 2023 season, he was starting games and showing enough promise for the Broncos to seriously evaluate his future.
What stands out about Stidham, according to insiders, isn’t just his mechanics or football IQ—it’s his presence. Coaches and teammates alike have noted his calm demeanor, his ability to lead without demanding attention, and his competitive fire.
“He’s not a rah-rah guy, but you feel him in the huddle,” said one Broncos offensive lineman. “He believes in himself, and that makes you want to go out there and protect him even more.”
Stidham’s 2024 offseason has been all about seizing the moment. He’s been a consistent presence at team facilities, organizing workouts with receivers, diving deep into the playbook, and building rapport with new additions to the offense. That level of leadership has not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.
Sean Payton, known for his work with quarterbacks throughout his tenure in New Orleans, has spoken glowingly about Stidham’s approach.
“Jarrett is everything you want in a competitor,” Payton said during minicamp. “He prepares like a starter, he understands our system, and he wants to be great. We’re excited to see what he can do when given the keys.”
Still, there are questions. Is Stidham truly a franchise quarterback, or is he a high-end backup who can win a few games but lacks the consistency to lead a deep playoff run? That’s the debate that’s raging not just in media circles, but likely within the Broncos’ front office as well.
But Palmer’s challenge isn’t about guaranteeing success—it’s about committing to the process. He argues that Denver can’t afford to straddle the fence, especially in a division where Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and now a retooled Las Vegas Raiders roster present formidable obstacles.
“You can’t be halfway in,” Palmer said. “You can’t hedge your bets with a veteran stopgap or hope to stumble into a top draft pick. You have a guy you believe in—so prove it. Put weapons around him, give him protection, and let him show you who he really is.”
The Broncos have already taken steps in that direction. They’ve retooled their offensive line, added dynamic playmakers through the draft and free agency, and committed to a run-first scheme that complements Stidham’s play-action prowess. But the real test will come in the fall—when the lights are brightest, and every throw counts.
In many ways, this moment mirrors where the Broncos were nearly a decade ago. After Peyton Manning retired, the team floundered through a carousel of quarterbacks—Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian, Case Keenum, Drew Lock—never finding a long-term answer. The arrival of Russell Wilson was supposed to end that search, but instead it became another expensive misstep.
Now, with a clean slate and a young quarterback who still has much to prove, Denver has an opportunity to rewrite the script. And that’s what Palmer is urging them to do—take control of their narrative by choosing conviction over caution.
That means leaning into Stidham’s strengths: play-action rollouts, quick decision-making, and vertical throws that take advantage of speed on the perimeter. It means giving him the freedom to grow, even through mistakes, and resisting the temptation to pull the plug too early if the going gets tough.
It also means patience—a rare commodity in the modern NFL. But as Palmer and others have noted, that patience could pay off in the form of stability, something the Broncos haven’t had at the quarterback position since 2015.
Fans are watching closely. The Bronco faithful, long accustomed to the franchise being a perennial contender, are hungry for a new hero under center. The early returns on Stidham have been promising, but they want more than glimpses—they want results.
The organization has echoed that urgency. General Manager George Paton, whose job security is closely tied to the success of the current rebuild, has expressed confidence in the team’s direction.
“We feel good about the guys in our locker room,” Paton said. “And we feel especially good about the guy we’ve got leading the offense. Jarrett’s earned this shot, and we’re going to support him every step of the way.”
That support must come in the form of not just words, but actions. Continued investment in the offensive line. A clear, consistent offensive identity. A coaching staff that empowers rather than micromanages. And perhaps most importantly, a locker room that believes it can win with Stidham—not just compete.
Palmer’s challenge is simple, but it carries enormous implications. In the NFL, fortunes change fast. One season can be the difference between irrelevance and resurgence. For Denver, 2025 could be that season—if they fully commit.
The path to playoff relevance, and perhaps even contention, may not lie in a flashy trade or a high-profile free agent. It may lie in the untapped potential of a quarterback already in their building. A quarterback who’s “dynamic,” driven, and ready for the challenge—if the Broncos are ready to build around him.
The decision isn’t just about Jarrett Stidham—it’s about identity. Will the Broncos define their future by boldness and belief, or by hesitation and doubt? As the season approaches and the stakes rise, one thing is clear: the time for half-measures is over. It’s time for Denver to go all-in.
