Broncos' Sean Payton believes Jarrett Stidham can be starting QB in NFL

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton may have intentionally or unintentionally confirmed a recent report about backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. 

According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Payton offered high praise for Stidham while speaking with reporters on Monday. Specifically, Payton was impressed by how well the 26-year-old played for the Las Vegas Raiders in a 37-34 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers on New Year's Day. 

Stidham threw for 365 passing yards and three touchdowns in that defeat. 

"There were a handful of No. 2s that I had worked with or we felt comfortable with, but in this case, I think it’s a No. 2 that his arrow is moving in a direction where we think he can become an NFL starter," Payton added about Denver signing Stidham. "So the evaluation was pretty crystal clear for all of us. I think he’s going to be someone who’s great in the room. He’s smart. So quietly that was an important signing for us." 

After the Broncos and Stidham agreed to a two-year, $10M deal with $5M guaranteed and $4M more in incentives, NBC Sports' Peter King wrote that was "the most fascinating signing of the first week" of free agency. 

King also suggested that Payton, who took over as Denver's head coach this offseason, would not hesitate to bench one-time Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson in favor of Stidham this fall if Wilson plays as poorly as he did throughout the 2022 campaign. 

"But Payton did not go hard after Stidham to put the pressure on Wilson," King said last week. "He considered his options at backup QB and thought he could play it safe for around the same money with an Andy Dalton type, or swing for the fences on a young prospect with significant upside."

Overall, Stidham has completed 58.8% of 131 career regular-season passes for 926 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. While it seems unlikely he'll compete with Wilson for the starting job this summer, Stidham could have an opportunity to impress Payton during meaningful games later this year if Wilson performs like a signal-caller who is past his physical prime.