NFL Free Agency: Jarrett Stidham signs two-year deal with Denver Broncos
Derek Carr was not the only quarterback to leave the Las Vegas Raiders this off-season. Jarrett Stidham, who backed up Carr most of the year, has signed with the Denver Broncos, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic. It is a two-year deal worth $10 million, including $5 million guaranteed.
Due to Stidham being a fourth-round pick, he only got three years on his rookie deal. Stidham is expected to continue his backup role with the Broncos behind Russell Wilson after doing so at his previous two stops. But if called upon, there will be some starting experience in the locker.
Stidham was originally drafted by the New England Patriots. Las Vegas traded for the Auburn product before the 2022 season, where he appeared in five games with two starts. Both resulted in losses as Stidham threw for 656 total yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions.
More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2023 calendar year is set to begin at 4 p.m. ET on March 15 when contracts running through 2022 will officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams will be allowed a legal negotiation with players who are set to become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets while April 26 marks the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets. 722 players are slated to become free agents in 2023.
More on restricted, exclusive rights free agents
Players with only three years of accredited NFL experience become restricted free agents. Their original team will have the option to apply first-round, second-round, original-round, and right-of-fight-of-first-refusal tenders on players at escalating price tags. The higher the round, the more expensive the tender amount; however, if a separate team does offer a contract and the original team does not match that round pick will be conveyed from the new team to the original team. Right of first refusal only gives a team the option to match or not. If they don’t match, they get nothing in return. An original-round tender would send a draft pick from whatever round the player was drafted back to the original team if they chose not to match. The original team will have five days to match once a player signs an offer sheet from a new team.