The Broncos’ big splash on Day 1 of the NFL’s free agency negotiating period came on the offensive line, but the franchise also moved quickly to identify its backup quarterback.
They did so by agreeing to a two-year, $10 million deal with former Las Vegas and New England signal-caller Jarrett Stidham, according to league sources.
Stidham played for the Raiders in 2022 and spent two seasons before that with New England.
He started the Raiders’ final two games of last year after the team made it clear it was moving on from Derek Carr. In a pair of losses, Stidham threw for 584 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Stidham, 26, started his college career at Baylor and finished it at Auburn. He is a Stephenville, Texas, native and now will be in a position group coached by a 28-year-old former Texas high school quarterback in Davis Webb.
Stidham will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Russell Wilson. Denver also has late-season addition Jarett Guarantano currently under contract.
Payton has traditionally liked to have a quarterback with experience as a second option. In 15 seasons paired with Drew Brees in New Orleans, Payton’s franchise only drafted four quarterbacks. Two of them came in the final two years as Brees arrived at retirement.
Stidham has appeared in 13 games total and in that span has completed 58.8% of his passes for 926 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
The Broncos, a source confirmed, informed 2022 backup and restricted free agent Brett Rypien that they would not be tendering him a contract. He’ll be free to sign with another team beginning Wednesday. The minimum commitment to have the right of first refusal on Rypien would have been $2.627 million.
At that price tag, Denver is also opting against tendering its other restricted free agents, a source said. They are corner Essang Bassey, safety P.J. Locke and long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer. They will become free agents, though the Broncos could try to re-sign any or all of them at lower numbers.
Denver adding TE Manhertz. The Broncos on Monday also agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal ($3.34 million guaranteed) with Jacksonville tight end Chris Manhertz, his agency, SES Sports, confirmed to The Post.
Manhertz, 30, is considered primarily a blocking tight end. He spent the past two seasons with Jacksonville after most of five years in Carolina. He briefly crossed paths with Payton in 2016, appearing in three games for the Saints.
Manhertz is listed at 6-5 and 255 pounds. He was a college basketball player at Canisius but has become more of force in the run game than the passing game in the NFL. He’s got 24 career catches in 104 games. In October, Jaguars first-year head coach Doug Pederson raved about Manhertz’ contributions in the run game.
“He’s been great for us in the run game. He’s been one of the guys I’ve really enjoyed working with,” Pederson said. “Each week we still try to figure out a way to throw him the ball if we can. He sacrifices a lot to block and he does a great job of that.”
Footnotes: The list of 2022 Broncos who agreed to terms elsewhere on Monday included tight end Andrew Beck and running back Mike Boone. They are both headed to Houston on two-year agreements, according to several outlets including the Houston Chronicle. … Denver tendered contracts to exclusive rights free agents in punter Corliss Waitman, linebacker Jonas Griffith and offensive lineman Quinn Bailey but did not tender edge Jonathan Kongbo, a source said. Exclusive rights free agents are players with less than three accrued seasons who have expiring contracts. If a team tenders a one-year contract offer at the NFL minimum salary, the player cannot negotiate with other teams.
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