Expectations For Russell Wilson and the Broncos Entering 2022

Aug 7

*New Broncos Quarterback Rusell Wilson (Mile High Sports)*

Denver finally has an answer at quarterback, what can we expect from them this season?

Trading for a superstar player, especially a quarterback, hints that a team is ready to “win now.” The Denver Broncos made this clear by trading for nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks earlier this off-season.

Wilson, who enters his 11th season in the NFL after 10 in Seattle, has an impressive playoff track record, including a Super Bowl championship in 2013, back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2013-14, along with several memorable playoff performances. In his last healthy season in 2020-21, Wilson threw for 40 touchdowns and was named to yet another Pro-Bowl.

Since winning Super Bowl 50 in 2015 behind Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning, the Broncos have yet to make it back to the playoffs, with the long list of quarterbacks being a big reason why. In just less than seven seasons, Wilson is the Broncos’ 12th starting quarterback.

This move gives large spurge of hope for Broncos fans, however, as he is undoubtedly the best quarterback on their roster since the Peyton Manning days. After years of subpar quarterback play, the Broncos aren’t the only ones hungry to go back to their old ways, as Wilson hasn’t been to the Conference Championship game since the 2014 season.

Despite a season-ending injury to wideout Tim Patrick, the Broncos are a team with a lot of talent in their receiving core. Russ still has talented names like Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy at his disposal, not to mention a defense that can surprise people if they manage to remain healthy.

*Broncos receivers Courtland Sutton (No. 14) and Jerry Jeudy (No. 10) (USA TODAY)*

The past two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks were both in their first season with the team (Tom Brady in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Matthew Stafford in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams). The Broncos continuing this trend in Wilson’s first year is already a longshot given that adjusting to a new team takes time.

Not to mention, the elite quarterbacks scattered throughout the AFC make the road for any kind of run difficult. Wilson plays in arguably the hardest division in football, with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Derek Carr being the twice-a-year matchups he’ll have to get used to.

A competitive AFC and a difficult division certainly don’t help the Broncos on their quest back to contention, but adding a future Hall-of-Famer at quarterback should be enough to insert Denver as an AFC playoff contender. Their division will be hard to come out of as a playoff team, but the Broncos provide Wilson with enough help he needs to produce at the elite level he has for many years. His past success coupled with his new situation allows the 33-year-old quarterback to lead the way for Denver to surprise people this season.