Report: Broncos getting calls about trading backup QB Jarrett Stidham

The Denver Broncos were forced to start backup QB Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Title Game.

After a great drive in the first quarter for a touchdown, it didn’t go well.

Stidham and the Broncos offense didn’t score the rest of the day in a frustrating 10-7 loss to the Patriots. Stidham also had a costly fumble that gifted New England seven of its 10 points, sending them to the Super Bowl while Denver watched from home with the rest of us.

And even though head coach Sean Payton hyped up Stidham after Bo Nix broke his ankle, the results were underwhelming. In the game Stidham went 17-31 for 133 yards, a TD and an interception. He also took three sacks to go along with the fumble.

The weather didn’t help as a blizzard rolled in during the second half, but Stidham and the offense could barely move the football.

Will the Broncos look to upgrade the backup QB position this offseason? Perhaps. And a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on Wednesday morning certainly raised some eyebrows.

Denver is actually getting calls about trading Stidham.

As the QB market plays out, trade targets remain in play for several teams. I’m told teams have reached out to the Broncos about backup Jarrett Stidham, whose lone start of the season came in the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/7fcFg33LAH

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 4, 2026

It might make sense to move on for two reasons.

First, trading Stidham would save the Broncos $6.5 million against the salary cap and result in just $1.5 million in dead money.

And two, Stidham’s now 1-4 in his career as a starter in the NFL with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. He likes to point out he thinks he should start in this league, but the evidence is saying otherwise.

If the worst case scenario happened again and Nix got hurt for a key game or two, Payton might rather turn to a veteran like Marcus Mariota or Kirk Cousins if they could be obtained and are willing to backup Nix in Denver.

As free agency opens in only five days, this is one to keep an eye on. Stidham could be on the move with the Broncos hunting for a new No. 2 quarterback.

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