Broncos’ Stidham tied for highest-paid veteran backup QB in NFL

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — If economics is used as a tiebreaker, Jarrett Stidham will not only be the Broncos’ No. 2 quarterback for the team’s season opener Sunday at Seattle, he is tied for the top backup quarterback in the NFL.

Stidham’s $6 million pay out for the 2024 season is tied with Washington’s Marcus Mariota and the Jets’ Tyrod Taylor for the league’s highest-paid non-rookie backup quarterback.

Right behind that trio is another Broncos’ backup QB, Zach Wilson, who is making $5.45 million in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract he received from the New York Jets as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Denver is splitting Wilson’s cost with the Jets, with each team paying him $2.73 million this year.

Broncos’ head coach Sean Payton has yet to announce whether Stidham or Wilson will be his No. 2 quarterback. But given Stidham’s salary, it would be noteworthy if he’s not the choice to serve as the backup to rookie starter Bo Nix, at least in the early part of the regular season.

We’re not talking about first-round rookies New England’s Drake Maye, Atlanta’s Michael Penix and Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy, all of whom received signing bonuses north of $12.7 million that are included in their 2024 cash pay outs. Those rookies are not so much backups (McCarthy is out for the season with a knee injury) as future franchise quarterbacks.

This about the vets who are getting paid “backup money.’’ From that group, no one is making more than Stidham, who as a free agent prior to the 2023 season received a two-year, $10 million contract from the Broncos. Stidham was paid $4 million last year and $6 million this year for a $5 million average. But in 2024 cash payout, Stidham is tied for No. 1.

A look at the NFL’s top 32 paid backup quarterbacks in 2024 cash dollars (note how many former Broncos starting QBs are on this list):

1. (tie) Jarett Stidham, Broncos, $6 million

Marcus Mariota, Washington, $6 million

Tyrod Taylor, Jets, $6 million

4. Trey Lance, Cowboys, $5.3 million

5. Drew Lock, Giants, $5 million

6. Joe Flacco, Colts, $4.5 million

7. Andy Dalton, Panthers, $4 million

Jameis Winston, Browns, $4 million

9. Carson Wentz, Chiefs, $3.33 million

10. Justin Fields, Steelers, $3.23 million

11. Davis Mills, Texans, $3.12 million

12. Jimmy Garoppolo, Rams, $3.04 million

13. Case Keenum, Texans, $3 million

14. Mason Rudolph, Titans, $2.87 million

15. Mac Jones, Jaguars, $2.79 million

16. Mitch Trubisky, Bills, $2.75 million

17. Zach Wilson, Broncos, $2.73 million*

18. Easton Stick, Chargers, $2.67 million

19. Cooper Rush, Cowboys, $2.25 million

20. Josh Dobbs, 49ers, $2.25 million

21. Brandon Allen, 49ers, $2.02 million

22. Kenny Pickett, Eagles, $1.98 million

23. Nick Mullens, Vikings, $1.9 million

24. Kyle Trask, Bucs, $1.41 million

25. Josh Johnson, Ravens, $1.38 million

26. Kyle Allen, Steelers, $1.29 million

27. Taylor Heinicke, Chargers, $1.21 million*

28. Malik Willis, Packers, $1.17 million

29. Brett Rypien, Vikings, $1.13 million

Jeff Driskel, Washington, $1.13 million

31. Sam Ehlinger, Colts, $1.06 million

32. Hendon Hooker, Lions, $1.01 million

*Wilson’s salary here is only what Broncos are paying. Heinicke’s pay out is only what the Chargers are paying.

*Bold and italics: Current Broncos quarterbacks

Bold: Former Broncos quarterbacks

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