Broncos’ $35 Million Backup QB Listed as Likely Trade Bait

Getty Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson.

If an NFL team finds itself in the market for a backup quarterback in the coming weeks, they might want to pick up the phone and call the Denver Broncos.

Denver quarterback Zach Wilson is a strong candidate to be traded during the season, according to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who identified the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants as likely destinations.

“Like [Mac] Jones, Wilson had some impressive moments during the preseason that could stir up trade interest,” Knox wrote on September 11, listing Wilson No. 6 on his “trade block big board.” “Two teams stand out as logical suitors at this point. The Packers won’t have [injured quarterback Jordan] Love for the immediate future and might need a new quarterback to navigate the next few weeks. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Packers ‘have not reached out and are not expected’ to pursue a veteran signal-caller at this time. That stance could change, however, depending on how backup Malik Willis fares in Week 2.”

Wilson wasn’t on the Broncos’ active roster for a Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and was used as the team’s emergency third quarterback. Rookie Bo Nix beat out Wilson and veteran Jarrett Stidham for the starting quarterback spot in training camp.

Broncos Traded for Zach Wilson in Offseason

Getting another team to bite on Wilson as trade bait could help the Broncos recoup what they gave up for him — their 2024 sixth-round pick — in a trade with the New York Jets in the offseason.

Getting a sixth- or seventh-round pick in return at this point would be nothing less than a win for the Broncos.

“Wilson, another first-round disappointment from the 2021 draft class, is behind both Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham on the Denver Broncos depth chart,” Knox wrote. “While Nix didn’t exactly have a stellar NFL debut, Wilson could be viewed as an expendable trade chip.”

While the Packers are facing uncertainty with an injury to Jordan Love in Week 1 and an unproven backup in Willis, the Giants might be an option because they appear to be staring down a dumpster fire of a season. Starting quarterback Daniel Jones was 22-of-42 passing for 186 yards and 2 interceptions in a Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Jones is injury prone and has Drew Lock as his backup quarterback — meaning the Giants could eventually need bodies. Wilson could be one of those thrown into the fire to do a reasonable impression of an NFL quarterback for a season.

Broncos general manager George Paton said Wilson will eventually be a starter again in the NFL.

“He has all the starting traits in the world. He’s still working through some things,” Paton said in late August, according to the Denver Gazette. “You could see the really good last week in the game (against the Cardinals). He can throw it as good as anyone in the league. … I do think he’ll be a starter in this league.”

Wilson Bombed Out in First NFL Stop

Wilson has been one of the NFL’s most recent high-profile draft busts after the Jets took him at No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL draft out of BYU and signed him to a 4-year, $35.1 million contract.

Despite his struggles — Wilson went 12-21 as a starter and threw 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions — he will still collect every cent of his rookie contract. That’s mostly thanks to a $22.9 million signing bonus he got in 2021.