AFC Notes: Jarrett Stidham, Matt Nagy, Broncos, Chiefs, Steelers

Broncos

Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham is taking on the role of being the veteran leader in the team’s quarterback room.

โ€œItโ€™s been fun,โ€ Stidam said, via Broncos Wire. โ€œItโ€™s been exciting having two new guys in the room. This is the first time Iโ€™ve been the [veteran] in the room, so thatโ€™s been fun and exciting. This is a business. I understand how this thing works, but itโ€™s been fun to compete and that is what we are going to do.โ€

Stidham knows that the team drafted their quarterback of the future in Bo Nix, but he won’t give up the job without a fight.

โ€œLike I said, Iโ€™ve dealt with this before when I was in New England with Mac Jones,โ€ Stidham said when asked about Denver drafting Nix. โ€œItโ€™s a business and I totally understand it, but at the same time, Iโ€™m here to compete. Iโ€™m not going to just sit down and let someone else walk in here and โ€” Iโ€™m going to work my butt off to get the job. Iโ€™m super excited about it.โ€

Stidham added that he’s willing to be a mentor for the younger players if that’s what the team wants him to be.

โ€œI was fortunate enough โ€” my rookie year, I was competing with Brian Hoyer for the backup job in New England behind Tom [Brady],โ€ Stidham recalled. โ€œโ€˜Hoyโ€™ had been in the system for seven or eight years and he did nothing but help me. I want to help these guys learn as much as they can. Like I said, Iโ€™m the vet in the room, so anything that Iโ€™ve been up on over the years, I tell those guys. Certain little thoughts or tricks I have, I share them. At the same time, weโ€™re all in it together, and weโ€™re all competing. Thatโ€™s what we have to do.โ€

Chiefs

After the explosion of deep plays with WR Tyreek Hill from 2018-2021, Kansas City hasn’t had the same ability to stretch the defense since his departure. Chiefs OC Matt Nagy discussed the league’s improvement at defending the deep pass and noted they are working to take more efficient attempts.

“I think weโ€™ve seen an evolution โ€“ not just against the Chiefs in recent years but also the NFL in general โ€“ the deep shots arenโ€™t there as much,” Nagy said, via Logan Lazarczyk of the Chiefs Wire. “[We] just [want to have] that balance of being able toโ€ฆ have that touchdown to check-down mentality, but be smart with when we do take those shots.”

Steelers

When asked about joining the Steelers’ revamped receivers group, Quez Watkins recalled being drafted by the Eagles in 2020 when they brought in several new players to his position. 

โ€œMy rookie year with the Eagles, we drafted three receivers and then brought in two more,โ€ said Watkins, via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. โ€œWe all get to compete and make each other better.โ€

Watkins felt the organization trading away Diontae Johnson to the Panthers benefitted him and hopes to claim Johnson’s former role. 

โ€œFor me, when I saw they traded Diontae, it was a great opportunity to potentially be a No. 2 or whatever they want me to do,โ€ Watkins said. โ€œItโ€™s a good opportunity to compete for that spot.โ€

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin likes the “overall trajectory” of their receivers this offseason. 

โ€œI’m pleased with the work that we’re getting from that group,โ€ Tomlin said. โ€œI like the overall trajectory of it. We’ve got some young and developing players, some guys that are excited about showing what they’re capable of.โ€

Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?

Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!

Leave a Reply