The Impact Russell Wilson Will Have on the Denver Broncos
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It is no longer news, at this point, that the Broncos have traded for the incredibly skilled quarterback, Russell Wilson this afternoon, but what is the impact Russell Wilson will have on the Denver Broncos in 2022 and beyond? The Broncos blockbuster trade this morning, was one of the biggest trades in Broncos franchise history and immediately elevated the Broncos to contender status in one of the most stacked divisions in the NFL. The reports of Aaron Rodgers signing a 4-year $200 million dollar contract had everyone in Broncos Country incredibly disappointed, as the general pulse of the fans, was that the Broncos brought in Nathaniel Hackett to snare Rodgers from the Packer jaws, and that fell through.
Jerry Jeudy tweeted this in reaction to the Rodgers News:
When the reports of Rodgers signing were going viral, all of Broncos Country was asking the question, “well, what’s next?”. My uncle texted me five minutes after the Rodgers deal, and I replied, “I guess the team turns their attention to Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson”. Two hours later, I was graced with the news that the Broncos had pulled the trigger, agree to terms with the Seahawks to acquire Russ, and were back in the playoff conversation almost instantly.
It was no secret that Russell Wilson was having issues with the Seattle Seahawks organization and there seemed to be bad blood. It was reported out of the Broncos camp that the Aaron Rodgers deal had nothing to do with the Russell Wilson trade, but the fact that mere hours after the Aaron Rodgers deal, Wilson was on the move, makes me believe one of two things:
- The Broncos were never fully all-in on Aaron Rodgers as was being reported, they simply were leaning into the fan’s narrative, and Russ was the real target
- The Broncos knew the second Rodgers was off the board they needed to commit fully to the Russell Wilson deal
Post Russell Wilson trade
Courtland Sutton seems to be thinking he’s going to have a career year:
Broncos reporters were having a field day breaking down 2022 so far and breaking down the implications of the trade:
Draft Pick Fallout
The Broncos don’t get a draft choice in 2022 until pick 64, the last selection of the second round. They were able to maintain ownership of both of their third rounders, so they can still secure some depth and rotational players, making three selections in the first three rounds. I’d argue that they should use these picks on a Right Tackle, Defensive Lineman, and possibly a Tight End with the departure of Shelby Harris and Noah Fant. The Broncos still should have nearly $20 million in salary cap space, so they can take a few Free Agency swings (looking at you Von Miller!) before the NFL Draft.
Russell Wilson’s Resume
As the team starts to take shape with Russell Wilson now a Denver Bronco, what can fans expect for 2022? We get a 9x Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl Champion (over our Denver Broncos in 2013), a supreme leader who works hard and shoulders the load of his team. The Bronco’s landed a quarterback with a monster arm, playoff experience, elusiveness that makes him one of the most dangerous quarterbacks outside of the pocket, and a guy that throws 30+ touchdowns a season and around 10 interceptions a season. Wilson is a quarterback that has a win loss record of 104-53-1 in his NFL career, and he has only missed two games since 2012, both last year with a wrist injury.
Russell Wilson comes to a Denver team that has been patiently waiting for a franchise quarterback for 7+ years since the 2015 Super Bowl victory. Wilson is exactly what fans have been waiting for, and it is fair to say that if the Broncos do not make the playoffs in 2023, the season was a failure. He is a pocket quarterback first, but is a mobile athlete that has proven through his 10 NFL seasons, he can run without receiving punishment, wisely sliding and stepping out of bounds.
Broncos Team With Wilson
Wilson will be working with an absolutely stacked offense and it will be his responsibility to get the most out of his entourage of young potential. The weakness of this offense is no doubt the offensive line, but they are by no means the worst in the league. The Broncos should be able to run the ball early and often with Javonte Williams. They will have star potential in Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy on the edges at wide receiver. The receiver depth will provide Wilson with an over the top target in KJ Hamler, a possession, big-bodied, first down machine in Tim Patrick, and a young electric tight end in Albert O. This could be one of the best offenses in the NFL in 2022.
It is no secret the Broncos defense expects to be a top 10 defense in the NFL, and for the first time in seven years, they should have no excuses as the offense should carry its own weight in 2023. The defense may transition from a “don’t let the other team score” mentality to a “just steal a possession here and there” mentality. When the offense is capable of scoring points at will, the defense only has to get timely stops and takeaways to be the most impactful, and play complimentary football.
This roster has been constructed masterfully so far, in Paton’s second complete off-season. Only time will tell what they will do with the rest of their salary cap space, what free agents could be returning to Denver under smaller contracts with the chance to win a Super Bowl, what free agents could be lured to Denver with their new upward trajectory, and how they approach the NFL draft towards the end of April. Let’s not forget that Russell Wilson began his professional sports career as a MLB Draft pick by the Colorado Rockies, it is only fitting that he finishes his career in Denver as a Bronco. Let’s hope these next five years are as exciting and fruitful as the four years with Peyton Manning!
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