Why haven't the Broncos signed Ryan Fitzpatrick?

The Denver Broncos have the league's best defense and no starting quarterback.

So why haven't they signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, the best quarterback left in the - admittedly - undesirable 2015 free agent class?

On paper it's a match made in heaven, with the Broncos getting a reliable option to maximize the talent on their roster over the next two years, and Fitzpatrick getting a legitimate chance to start on a contender for the first time in his career.

Currently, the Broncos have a roster that includes quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and undrafted free-agent Trevor Siemian. Sanchez feels like more of an insurance policy, and Siemian is a developmental player, but is there a player not on their roster that would make more sense than Fitzpatrick? Like, say Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick, who the Broncos have kicked the tires on in regards to a trade possibility, offers more upside and long-term value than Fitzpatrick, but is a huge gamble for a team that shouldn't be shooting for the moon at quarterback when it's been proven they don't need to.

Mired in a contract stalemate with the New York Jets after a career year in which he threw for 3,905 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, Fitzpatrick has reportedly asked for $16 million a season. That asking price is far too high for Denver but if Fitzpatrick comes down to a realistic number - say $10-$12 million a year - he would fit perfectly into a formula that allowed the Broncos to win Super Bowl 50.

Denver currently has about $6.5 million in cap space and are expected to free up more with the release, trade or restructuring of superfluous offensive tackle Ryan Clady.

If you're looking to repeat the 2015 formula of don't-lose-us-the-game quarterback play, neither Sanchez (84 interceptions in 75 games) or Kaepernick (22 turnovers in his last 25 games) would be your best bet.

The Broncos could be waiting for April's draft to see how all 32 rosters shake out in the hopes that Fitzpatrick loses some leverage or the San Francisco 49ers loosen their grip on Kaepernick. But they're gambling with a roster that is designed to win now and may regret not pulling the trigger on a solid veteran coming off a very good season.

The most likely avenue to a championship repeat is by signing Fitzpatrick now, a fact no one believed would be true at the end of the 2014 season.