What’s next for Broncos at quarterback now that Aaron Rodgers is staying in Green Bay? – The Denver Post

Aaron Rodgers is staying in Green Bay with a contract extension that will likely keep him with the Packers until he retires. So what’s next for Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Nathaniel Hackett? A look at the quarterback possibilities:

The top option

Russell Wilson

Seattle went to great lengths at last week’s NFL combine to say it is not shopping Wilson, but that doesn’t exactly mean the Seahawks won’t listen to offers. Wilson should be at the top of the Broncos’ list.

Free agents

Marcus Mariota

Mariota, who turns 29 in October, hasn’t started a game since he was benched at halftime of Tennessee’s loss to the Broncos in Week 6 of 2019. He spent the last two years with Las Vegas, playing 89 total snaps, some of which last year came in a short-yardage role. He has a 29-32 record and because he’s looking for a chance to start, should settle for a one-year deal.

Mitchell Trubisky

Trubisky will be playing his age-28 season and has 50 career starts (29-21), all with Chicago, which traded up to draft him first overall in 2017. He was Josh Allen’s back-up last year for Buffalo. Trubisky had three winning seasons for the Bears — 11-3 in ’18, 8-7 in ’19 and 6-3 in ’20.

Andy Dalton

Dalton, 34, was 70-61-2 for Cincinnati from 2011-19 and has bounced from Dallas (4-5 record in ’20) and Chicago (3-3 record last year). The Bears signed Dalton to be their starter but then traded up for Justin Fields in the first round. The only rationale for being interested in Dalton is if the Broncos draft a quarterback ninth overall and want Dalton to be a veteran back-up.

Jameis Winston

Winston, 28, was 5-2 with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions for New Orleans last year before he tore his ACL. He led the NFL with 30 interceptions in ’19 and then was Drew Brees’ back-up in ’20.

Trade market

Carson Wentz

No thanks. Philadelphia heisted Indianapolis last offseason, trading Wentz for a package that included a 2022 first-round pick. The Colts don’t seem inclined to give Wentz another season. If the Broncos are truly interested — and they shouldn’t be — they can just wait until Wentz is cut.

Kirk Cousins

When Cousins signed his initial three-year contract with Minnesota in March 2018, Paton was the No. 2 man in the Vikings’ front office. Plus, new Broncos quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak worked with Cousins the last two years. All indications, though, are that the Vikings are content keeping Cousins, who is a free agent in March 2023.

Jordan Love

Hey, why not? Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett and offensive coordinator Justin Outten were on the Packers’ staff for both of Love’s first two NFL seasons. Rodgers isn’t going anywhere and is likely to play beyond 2022.

Familiar faces

Teddy Bridgewater

Bridgewater, 29, went 7-7 with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first year with the Broncos and is scheduled to become a free agent next Wednesday. He missed part of the Week 4 Baltimore loss (concussion), played injured in the Week 7 loss at Cleveland (foot) and missed the last 3 1/2 games (concussion). If Paton doesn’t like any of the free-agent passers, he could turn to Bridgewater with a one-year deal.

Drew Lock

There is a vocal minority of Broncos fans and media who think Lock was wronged last year when Bridgewater was acquired in a trade from Carolina and then named the starting quarterback after the second preseason game. Please. Lock was 4-9 with 15 interceptions in 2020 and was 0-3 (two touchdowns and interceptions apiece) in relief of Bridgewater to finish ’21. If Paton had confidence in Lock, he would have given him a shot to prove himself last year.

Draft prospects

Kenny Pickett

Pickett, who had 42 touchdowns and nine interceptions last year for Pittsburgh, may not get past Washington at No. 11. Pickett is viewed as the rookie quarterback most ready to play in Week 1. The Broncos have the ninth pick.

Malik Willis

Willis never got a chance at Auburn so he transferred to Liberty and had 47 touchdowns and 18 interceptions over two years. He threw well at the NFL combine last week and the Broncos could pair him with a veteran, stop-gap starter.

Sam Howell

A doable scenario: The Broncos sign a veteran quarterback to a one-year deal, draft a pass rusher at No. 9 and then use some of their four combined picks in rounds 2-3 to move into the late first round/early second round for Howell, who started four years for North Carolina and had 54 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over his final two seasons.

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