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 teamโ€™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 wonโ€™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 heโ€™s willing to be a mentor for the younger players if thatโ€™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 hasnโ€™t had the same ability to stretch the defense since his departure. Chiefs OC Matt Nagy discussed the leagueโ€™s improvement at defending the deep pass and noted they are working to take more efficient attempts.

โ€œI 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,โ€ Nagy said, via Logan Lazarczyk of the Chiefs Wire. โ€œ[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.โ€

Steelers

When asked about joining the Steelersโ€™ 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 Johnsonโ€™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 โ€œoverall trajectoryโ€ of their receivers this offseason. 

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

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