The Denver Broncos have a quarterback problem. And with Bo Nix still working his way back from ankle surgery, the decisions made in the coming months around the backup position could define the entire 2026 season before it even starts.

The Athletic's Nick Kosmider weighed in this week with his projected 53-man roster for Denver, and his prediction is straightforward. Daniel Arwas from Heavy reported this.

“Kosmider projects that general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton will opt to go with just Bo Nix and former Patriots and Raiders QB Jarrett Stidham. As a result, this will see ex-Colts sixth-round draft pick Sam Ehlinger be cut from the team.”

Kosmider did not treat it as a foregone conclusion, though. He acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Stidham's hold on the No. 2 spot directly. 

"Is Stidham still cemented as the team's No. 2 quarterback? The Broncos re-signed Ehlinger, last year's third-stringer, to a one-year contract in March, less than two months after Stidham's underwhelming performance… Payton didn’t rule out a change in the pecking order," he wrote. 

Nix himself is expected to be ready for training camp. Payton indicated earlier this month that the third-year QB could even see the field during the team's mandatory minicamp in June. However, with a demanding opening six-game schedule looming in 2026, the Broncos cannot afford to treat optimism as a plan. 

And that is precisely where this situation gets complicated.

With Bo Nix Injured, is Cutting A QB a Wise Choice? 

Ehlinger is not without value. His only extended run as a starter came in 2022, where he went 0-3 across three starts and four games, throwing for 573 yards with three touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 76.1 passer rating. The numbers are not spectacular, that is for sure. But the QB depth is minimal for the Broncos.

Nix is not a sure thing for Week 1. He had a clean-up procedure on his ankle as recently as late April, and Payton has been cautiously optimistic about the timeline. However, cutting a quarterback depth piece before that uncertainty resolves itself is a very risky move, and the Broncos may not be in a position to take.

The math of keeping three quarterbacks on a 53-man roster is not easy. Every roster spot carries a cost. However, if the Broncos' front office is sure that Nix is genuinely on track, carrying Ehlinger through the season as a third-stringer starts to look like an inefficiency.

It all depends on what condition Nix will be in come the season. As for now, cutting a veteran QB might not be the wisest move.

What are your thoughts on this particular speculation?

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Written by

Zaid Quraishi

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi