First in a series previewing the Broncos’ 2025 roster in the weeks leading up to the start of training camp in late July.
On the roster (three): Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger
How many on the 53? Could easily be three. Otherwise two.
Most impactful offseason move: Re-signing Jarrett Stidham
The Broncos always were more likely to keep Stidham and let Zach Wilson find a place where he can compete for more playing time. Denver gave Stidham a two-year, $12 million deal on the eve of free agency and saw Wilson get one year and $6 million from Miami. Stidham’s role isn’t high-profile, but it is important. He teams with quarterbacks coach Davis Webb as continuity in the meeting room around Nix, who is entering his second year as a pro. The Broncos also signed Ehlinger to a one-year deal in late-March. He projects to be this year’s version of Wilson, a young player who the club believes has some development potential remaining.
Biggest question to answer in camp: Will Denver keep three again this year?
Not quite as dramatic as a year ago when Nix had to beat out Stidham and Wilson to start as a rookie, but it will be interesting to see if head coach Sean Payton wants to roll with three guys on the 53-man roster again this year. The roster rules have been tweaked to make carrying three more palatable for teams, since the third guy essentially doesn’t count against the gameday active count. That will likely come down to how much promise the staff sees in Ehlinger.
Battle to watch: Nix against the burden of expectations.
This is a bit of a cop-out, but there’s not much drama in the room unless injury hits. Nix entered last year with many figuring he’d eventually win the starting job in Denver but modest external expectations beyond that. He was picked No. 12 overall but only after five other quarterbacks. Then he generated just two touchdowns in Denver’s first four games before accelerating quickly. Nix, of course, ended up accounting for 33 touchdowns and just 12 turnovers. He led the Broncos to a 10-7 mark and their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade. Now Nix and Denver aren’t sneaking up on anybody. Is he ready to make the leap and stay ahead of the curve in Year 2?
Under the radar player: Ehlinger.
The 26-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Broncos after he spent the first four years of his career in Indianapolis. Ehlinger hasn’t appeared in a game since 2023 and saw his most extensive action when he played four games (three starts) for the Colts in 2022. Originally a sixth-round pick in 2021, Ehlinger has played in eight total games in his career. In Denver he’s a pretty clear No. 3, though if he has a solid camp he could possibly push Stidham for the back-up job. Stidham, though, is essentially a lock to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster after getting $7 million guaranteed on his two-year deal.
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