The Denver Broncos are going to head into the 2024 season with their 13th different starting quarterback since Peyton Manning retired in 2016. When the Broncos traded for Russell Wilson in 2022, there was hope that he would finally stabilize the franchise. Unfortunately, the Wilson-era is over in Denver after only two seasons.
Russell Wilson: A New Hope
When the Denver Broncos made the decision to trade for Russell Wilson two years ago, they sought an experienced quarterback who had been successful. Wilson fit the bill. During his time in Seattle from 2012-2021, he led the Seahawks to two consecutive Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XLVIII over the Denver Broncos. Even though he was 33 at the time of the trade, Wilson still had something to prove.
Despite being older, he wanted to show general manager George Paton and the Broncos that he was still an elite NFL quarterback. Unfortunately, Broncos fans saw something different than what initially attracted Paton and the rest of the front office to “DangeRuss.” They saw a quarterback who was losing his mobility and quickness. This limited Wilson’s ability to avoid the rush. As a result, he was the most-sacked quarterback in Broncos history during his first season in Denver.
Russell Wilson: A Coaching Change Doesn’t Yield Results
When Sean Payton was hired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos in January 2023, his goal was simple: fix Russell Wilson and the offense. Even though Wilson’s performance did improve under Payton, the Broncos still struggled to find their offensive rhythm last season. Furthermore, Payton grew more frustrated with Wilson as the season progressed. Unless things turned around for the Broncos, it became clear that Wilson’s second season in Denver would ultimately be his last. Considering how much Denver had invested in the former Wisconsin Badger, it was up to head coach Sean Payton to right the ship.
Russell Wilson: Denver Broncos Move On
When Russell Wilson arrived in the “Mile-High City” in 2022, there was a sense of hope and excitement surrounding the Denver Broncos. In the wake of Wilson’s impending release, the trade will go down as one of the worst in NFL history. It can be argued that head coach Sean Payton ultimately set Wilson up to fail. However, it became glaringly obvious last season that “Mr. Unlimited” was not the solution at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. As the 2024 NFL draft draws closer, the Broncos will need to weigh all of their options at quarterback. As for Wilson, he will look to hit the reset button on his career next season.
About The Author
Christopher Svancara has been a passionate fan of basketball, baseball, and football since he was young. He also has a passion for expressing himself through his writing. His favorite aspect of writing about sports is uncovering the hidden stories about players and teams. As a Colorado native and an alumnus of the University of Colorado Boulder, Svancara developed a passion for a variety of Colorado sports teams. His favorite teams are the Colorado Buffaloes, Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos, and Denver Nuggets. He loves to attend sporting events to watch the drama unfold in person. Sharing the excitement of these moments with his readers is what motivates him to be a sports writer for Total Apex Sports.
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