Denver Broncos Could Make Surprising Quarterback Trade

The Denver Broncos came up just short of the Super Bowl last season. They ended up losing a heartbreaking game in the AFC Championship to the New England Patriots.

Unfortunately, just ahead of that game, the Broncos lost starting quarterback Bo Nix. Jarrett Stidham stepped in to start against the Patriots.

Stidham played well, completing 17 of his 31 passes for 133 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a game marred by snow in the second half. It wasn’t quite enough to win, but it was enough to show that he wasn’t scared of the moment.

With the 2026 NFL Draft coming up quickly, could Stidham become a potential trade candidate?

There are still teams around the league who could use help at the quarterback position. Stidham would make sense as a trade target for those teams.

Broncos Linked to Potentially Trading Jarrett Stidham

Chad Jensen of On SI has named Stidham as one of the players on the Denver roster who could draw trade interest leading up to and during the NFL Draft.

“It would take a very impressive offer for the Broncos to deal Stidham, though. Last January proved how much Sean Payton and the Broncos’ players and coaches appreciate ‘Stiddy,’” Jensen wrote.

“But Stidham is playing on an expiring contract and there could be a team out there looking for another quarterback with starting upside, especially in the face of a shallow draft class at the position.”

At the end of the day, the Broncos likely aren’t going to extend Stidham’s contract. Moving him now and bringing in some kind of draft value would make a lot of sense.

What Does Jarrett Stidham Bring to the Field?

Stidham has not completed a single regular season pass since the 2023 season with the Broncos.

Originally drafted by the Patriots with the No. 133 overall pick in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Stidham has carved out a solid career for himself as a quality backup. He has played solid football when called upon.

Throughout his NFL career thus far, the 29-year-old quarterback has played in just 20 games. He has completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 1,422 yards, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

What could Denver reasonably ask for in exchange for Stidham? Honestly, a fifth-round pick could be the top value the team could get. The Broncos would have to decide whether or not that’s enough to move on from a familiar backup quarterback who the fans love.

More than likely, Denver won’t end up moving Stidham during the draft. It’s much more likely that he will enter the 2026 season as the Broncos’ backup, but he’s a name worth keeping an eye on as a trade candidate.

Evan Massey Evan Massey is a sports reporter and analyst located in Indianapolis, Indiana who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, and college sports. He has been featured on many publications, including Newsweek, Athlon Sports, ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Forbes, Bleacher Report, Sporting News, and many others. In his free time, Evan enjoys spending time with his wife and son. More about Evan Massey