Could the Denver Broncos preheat the oven for Baker Mayfield in NFL free agency – now only two and a half weeks away? If the Broncos go the veteran “bridge” route this offseason, who would be the more realistic options for the team to look at?

Denver Broncos NFL Free Agency Preview: Quarterback

It’s another year, and another offseason of quarterback discourse, as the Broncos appear likely to have a new signal-caller under center. Since the team’s almost certainly parting ways with Russell Wilson, much of the discussion surrounding Denver’s approach to the QB position has been shared between free agency and the NFL Draft.

Broncos fans seem to be in agreement that drafting and develop a young QB with the team’s first-round pick is the preferred option, and it’s mine as well. The Broncos, however, don’t make personnel decisions based on what either of us want, and they may decide to look at a veteran option this offseason as well, so let’s envision what that may look like.

Could Baker Mayfield be the perfect fit for Sean Payton?

Sean Payton is a very flirty coach when it comes to players he admires. On ‘Radio Row’ prior to Super Bowl 58, Payton shared some praise for Baker with USAToday Sports. At the 38-second mark of the clip below, Payton teases that Baker was a guy who used to get unfair hatred, but now the script has flipped, and he’s looking for Baker.

Mayfield is coming off of a terrific season with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, starting all 17 games for them and leading them to a 9-8 record and playoff appearance. He completed 2023 with various career highs and 4,044 yards passing, a completion percentage of 64.3%, 28 touchdowns, and just ten interceptions.

He’ll be an unrestricted free agent and will generate quite a bit of interest from QB-needy teams, including Tampa Bay, who will likely try to retain his services. Mayfield’s skillset translates well on paper with what Payton is looking for from a processing standpoint, he throws the intermediate ball relatively well, and he can attack the middle of the field.

His current estimated market value is listed as a four-year, $108.5M deal with an average annual value of $27.1M, according to Spotrac. This might be the area that pushes Denver out of a potential sweepstakes for his services, considering the Broncos’ contract with Russell Wilson.

However, if Payton wants Baker, he’ll do everything he can to try and make it happen. It doesn’t appear likely that Baker would be in favor of a scenario where he comes in and serves as a bridge option for a younger player going forward, but so much depends on the market and environment he’s looking to be part of.

That could be Denver.

Would Sam Darnold be a good bridge option for the Denver Broncos?

Sam Darnold is another intriguing name to keep an eye on as free agency inches closer. The former New York Jets quarterback spent 2023 as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, learning the Kyle Shanahan offense and being part of a locker room that helped facilitate growth for him.

He backed up 49ers starter Brock Purdy this season and was helpful for the second-year quarterback. At Radio Row, Andrew Mason caught up with 49ers QB coach Brian Griese, who shared some valuable insight into Darnold’s approach and professionalism last year.

If Payton and the Broncos want to roll with a bridge option in 2024, Darnold would be an ideal option – because he himself would be playing to prove something to the rest of the league beyond 2024, even if it involves a one-year stop in Denver.

Will Jameis Winston and Payton reunite?

Jameis Winston wants to be a starter in 2024, and could very well find an opportunity to do so in free agency. It appears unlikely as if that option will be in New Orleans, as they prepare to run it back with Derek Carr.

Winston’s career rebounded in 2021; Payton’s final year with the Saints. As the starter, he went 5-2 and was on pace to throw for 40-plus touchdowns before tearing his ACL. In his seven games, he threw 14 touchdowns compared to three interceptions, with a career-high 102.8 passer rating.

It’s hard to expect that he can come right into Denver and pick up where he left off with Payton, but anything is possible. He’d be reuniting with Pete Carmichael, who just joined the Broncos staff as a senior offensive assistant.

Winston started three games for the Saints in 2022, going 1-2 and throwing for 858 yards despite throwing four touchdowns in comparison to five interceptions. He did complete 63.5% of his passes, though.

The former first-overall pick at quarterback still has a chip on his shoulder and would love for the opportunity to prove to various teams he can still start in the NFL, and if the Broncos decide to go with a veteran bridge option, a one-year deal to Denver would make sense.

While it seems like the most unpopular path for the team to take in the eyes of Broncos Country, it may be the direction the team ultimately decides to head if they don’t feel too confident in taking a quarterback at 12th overall in the NFL Draft.