Denver Broncos fans can breathe a little easier with Jimmy Garoppolo getting suspended.

The Denver Broncos are expected to soon have a massive quarterback vacancy, with Russell Wilson likely on the outs. The Broncos have to find a viable starter under center, and while signs are pointing to the 2024 NFL draft, there’s always a chance that Sean Payton could continue the team’s recent trend of finding a veteran, whether through free agency or trades.

One possible candidate entering the 2024 offseason was Jimmy Garoppolo of the Las Vegas Raiders. However, Broncos Country can safely scratch Garoppolo off the list in the wake of the NFL handing down a two-game suspension to the veteran QB

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is being suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing substances policy, league sources told ESPN.

The policy violation is said to be related to Garoppolo using a prescribed medication without having a valid therapeutic use exemption from the league, according to sources.

Garoppolo will not appeal the suspension and will miss the first two games of the 2024 season, per sources.It’s an unfortunate development for the Raiders (cry us a river, right?) because it hurts Garoppolo’s value on the trade market. And make no mistake, the Raiders were angling to trade him after benching him last year for the rookie Aidan O’Connell.

Although Garoppolo led the Raiders to a victory over the Broncos in the season opener, it was one of just three wins he produced as Vegas’ starter. He went 3-3 in games started last season, passing for 1,205 yards and seven touchdowns, with nine interceptions.

When Josh McDaniels was fired, the Raiders benched Garoppolo. It’s unclear if the move was the decision of then-interim head coach Antonio Pierce, or an organizational one. Either way, O’Connell stepped in and never looked back.

Entering his age-33 season, it’s quite clear that Garoppolo’s NFL stock has diminished. The league seemed unconvinced that he could thrive outside of a Kyle Shanahan scheme, but if there was any hope for it, it would be under McDaniels, who was part of the New England regime that drafted Garoppolo in the second round back in 2014.

Meanwhile, since Peyton Manning retired in 2016, the Broncos have drafted two quarterbacks — one in the first round (Paxton Lynch) and one in the second (Drew Lock). Both quarterbacks failed to launch in Denver, though, in hindsight, questions remain about whether either enjoyed the full faith and support of the organization at the time.

The Broncos’ post-Manning M.O. at quarterback has taken a veteran stop-gap approach, from Case Keenum, to Joe Flacco, to Teddy Bridgewater, and even Russell Wilson. For too long, the team convinced itself that it was one middle-of-the-road quarterback away from winning it all again.

But Payton is a fresh set of eyes, and he’s smart enough to know that if you continue to do what you’ve always done, you’ll continue to get what you’ve always got, so to speak. While we can’t eliminate the possibility of the Broncos seeking a veteran, the team is in a decent position in the draft this year, holding the No. 12 overall pick, to land one of the class’ top quarterback prospects.

Yes, the roster has many other holes besides quarterback, but until the Broncos solve the most important position in all of sports, those concerns take a back seat to identifying and procuring a bonafide franchise guy. For now, fans can feel modestly confident in crossing Garoppolo off the list, but it is the NFL, and we’re talking about the Broncos here.

Never say never.