Broncos Expected to Lose Former No. 2 Pick After $22 Million QB Decision

Wilson completed 63.6% of his passes for 397 yards and 3 touchdowns with 0 interceptions.

He recorded most of his production in the preseason finale against second and third-stringers, though, and he still showed glimpses of the flawed player he was as the No. 2 overall pick (2021) with the New York Jets.

Wilson is in the final year of his four-year, $35 million contract and will hit unrestricted free agency this offseason.

The Broncos declined his $22 million fifth-year option after the trade to land him from the Jets.

Zach Wilson Never Wrestled Broncos QB2 Job From Jarrett Stidham

Whether it was due to familiarity or performance in practice, Wilson’s inability to win the backup job behind Nix away from Stidham could prove telling about his next stop. Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke highly about Wilson after the trade.

“We just felt like, ‘Man, we’d love to work with this guy,’” Payton told media members in June 2024. “We remember grading him [before the 2021 draft]. And we felt the investment was worth it relative to his skillset & his talent. And so – it took a while. We spent the better part of a month and a half working on that trade.”

Payton also touted Wilson’s progress during the offseason program and into the Broncos’ preseason slate.

“I like that he’s going to take shots. He’s got a good live arm,” Payton told reporters in August 2024. “I’m encouraged. I like what I’m seeing, and that’s one of the plusses about bringing someone like him in here.”

Wilson has completed 57% of his career passes for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions with a 12-21 record as a starter.

Payton spoke about receiving preliminary trade inquiries during the season before the deadline.

“We’ll get teasers. A team a couple weeks ago [called and said], ‘Hey.’ Not even, and then you don’t [take it any further]. When there’s a call that is somewhat substantial, it’s still like the beginning process. ‘Hey, this is what we might [do],’” Payton told reporters in October 2024.

“George [Paton] and I will talk about it each day. But we’re focused on this right now. I understand [the question]. I understand it. And yet, it’s pretty normal. It’s – look, …there’s a group of teams shopping a certain list of players. And some teams are easier to do a deal with, maybe, than others. But right now, I like where we’re at with this group.”

The Broncos could stand to gain a compensatory pick for Wilson if he signs with another team in free agency.

They must lose more or better players than they add in free agency to get picks, per Over The Cap.

Jarrett Stidham on Fast Track to Broncos QB2 Role in 2025

The Broncos’ QB battle might have been between Stidham and Wilson had Payton’s draft gamble that Nix would make it to Denver at No. 12 not paid off. Stidham spent 2023 with the Broncos and he drew two starts in place of Russell Wilson to end the season.

That was to avoid an injury to Wilson, who the Broncos cut during the 2024 offseason.

The former New England Patriots fourth-round pick, Stidham, expressed disappointment that he lost the job to Nix but had also been confident he could be a starter.