In only a matter of weeks, or potentially even days, Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos will make their decision on the future of Russell Wilson.

After Payton benched Wilson entering Week 17, it’s more likely than not that the Broncos will move on from the 35-year-old quarterback and go a different direction at the most important position in sports.

If that’s the route the Broncos go, they will, once again, be on a search to find their next quarterback to pair with Jarrett Stidham.

Here are all of the options that could be available to the Broncos.

NFL Draft
Tier 1

Caleb Williams, USC
Drake Maye, North Carolina
Jayden Daniels, LSU
In order to land one of these quarterbacks, the Broncos would have to trade into the Top 5 of the draft, costing them at least their No. 12 pick and an additional first-round pick, if not even more.

Tier 2

Michael Penix Jr, Washington
Bo Nix, Oregon
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
The Broncos could draft one of these three quarterbacks with the 12th pick. However, if they want to guarantee a specific one among this group, they might need to trade up a few picks. There is also a chance that one of these quarterbacks falls significantly past 12.

Later rounds

Michael Pratt, Tulane
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
Jordan Travis, Florida State
Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
Joe Milton, Tennessee
Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
None of these quarterbacks would be a Day 1 starter for Sean Payton. This route would make sense if the team decides to bring Wilson back for an additional year. In that scenario, one of these quarterbacks could develop under Payton for a season or two before taking the starting job.

Free Agency
Big-money quarterbacks

Kirk Cousins, Vikings
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
Dream on. With the roughly $80 million in dead cap the team would have after moving on from Wilson, the Broncos simply do not have the cap space to afford either of these quarterbacks.

Competing to start

Gardner Minshew, Colts
Jameis Winston, Saints
Jake Browning, Bengals
Joe Flacco, Browns
Sam Darnold, 49ers
Ryan Tannehill, Titans
Marcus Mariota, Eagles
Drew Lock, Seahawks
Any of these quarterbacks would have an opportunity to grab the starting job in a competition with Stidham. Flacco, Mariota and Tannehill would likely represent a short-term answer at the position, while the rest would have an opportunity to be the team’s long-term answer if they played well.

Backups

Mason Rudolph, Steelers
Jacoby Brissett, Commanders
Joshua Dobbs, Vikings
Tyrod Taylor, Giants
Tyler Huntley, Ravens
Easton Stick, Chargers
Carson Wentz, Rams
If Denver were to sign one of these players, it could be bad news for Stidham as they would likely be his replacement as the team’s backup quarterback.

Trade
Instant starter

Justin Fields, Bears
Kyler Murray, Cardinals
Daniel Jones, Giants
Murray and Jones would simply be too expensive for the Broncos. Fields, however, would represent a very talented quarterback that Payton could help continue to develop. The biggest question with Fields is would he fit what Payton is looking for in a quarterback?

Competing to start

Geno Smith, Seahawks
Sam Howell, Commanders
Jimmy Garoppolo, Raiders
Kenny Pickett, Steelers
Mac Jones, Patriots
Andy Dalton, Panthers
If George Paton made a move for one of these players, they would have a chance to be the Week 1 starter in what likely would be another training camp quarterback competition.

Developmental quarterback

Zach Wilson, Jets
Trey Lance, Cowboys
Taylor Heinicke, Falcons
Desmond Ridder, Falcons
Mike White, Jets
Kyle Trask, Buccaneers
Malik Willis, Titans
Nick Mullins, Vikings
Tyson Bagent, Bears
Bailey Zappe, Patriots
Any of these players would be a project for Payton to attempt to develop into the team’s starting quarterback moving forward.

Veteran backup

Case Keenum, Texans
Mitchell Trubisky, Steelers
Keenum and Trubisky would simply be a replacement for Stidham as the team’s backup quarterback.