The Denver Broncos Finally Find Their Franchise QB.
Image via the official NFL Twitter @NFL
Since Super Bowl 50 and the retirement of Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos have started 11 different quarterbacks. However, on March 8, 2022, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero announced the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks have agreed for Russell Wilson to be traded to the Broncos.
In the deal as shown below and according to Brandon Krisztal (@BKDenverSports) as well as Adam Schefter, the Broncos will acquire Russell Wilson and Seattle’s 2022 fourth-round pick in exchange for two first-round picks (#9 this year and one in 2023), two second-round picks (#40 this year and another in 2023), Denver’s 2022 fifth-round pick, Drew Lock, Shelby Harris, and Noah Fant.
For the Broncos, George Paton, and Nathaniel Hackett acquiring Russell Wilson tears down the notion that Denver is a “quarterback away from contention”. Rather now bringing up the question of whether the Denver Broncos are playoff contenders in a loaded AFC West and AFC Conference. As Wilson will have to go from competing in the NFC West to playing against Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Derek Carr twice a year. Not to mention the quarterbacks he will have to face next season such as Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson, Matthew Stafford, and Ryan Tannehill just to name a few. As well as Wilson’s former team the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle.
Image via the Denver Broncos official Twitter @Broncos
Moving forward just from the outside looking in the Denver Broncos heading into next season will have a better offense under the new regimen. As the best-case scenario is that the offense will live up to the 2013-2014 Peyton Manning-led team. But for now, with weapons such as Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, Javonte Williams, and Albert Okwuegbunam, Russell Wilson can now compete with the modern high-scoring NFL offenses of today.
It will be interesting to see if Denver will become a free agency destination but in the long run for who won the blockbuster trade that is something we’ll just have to wait and see.
In the end, although the Broncos could not develop a quarterback or secure their Plan A in Aaron Rodgers. George Paton and the Broncos organization made the right decision in the trading for Russell Wilson.
Thumbnail image via the official NFL Twitter @NFL
