The Denver Broncos have found their long sought after franchise quarterback, acquiring Seattle Super Bowl winning signal caller Russell Wilson on Tuesday morning, although the deal cannot officially be announced until the new NFL year opens for business on March 16th.
Bringing Wilson to the Mile High City will not came without cost for the Broncos, who will be sending a pair of first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick to Seattle, in addition to former University of Missouri quarterback Drew Lock, defensive end Shelby Harris, and tight end Noah Fant.
Denver’s franchise trajectory shifted downward swiftly after the franchise’s Super Bowl 50 victory over Carolina, the Broncos third all-time championship. Kansas City’s rapid rise until Andy Reid and the Broncos struggles at quarterback to replace the then-retired Peyton Manning to give AFC West domination to the Chiefs, even while Denver’s loyal fans continue to sell out Empower Field at Mile High through a series of subpar seasons.
Although playoff success has not yet returned, the young talent base around Wilson is impressive, with new head coach Nathaniel Hackett inheriting a roster that includes dynamic wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, and K.J. Hamler, former Mizzou tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, and running back Javonte Williams.
The addition of Wilson to Denver’s roster loads up the AFC West to go after Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, with the Broncos now holding Russell Wilson, the Chargers promising youngster Justin Herbert, and Las Vegas established veteran Derek Carr.
The Chargers, on Tuesday night, reached agreement on a three-year, $66 million contract extension that keeps the Clemson product in Los Angeles. In 2021, Williams caught 76 passes for 1,146 yards, and at 27 years of age, should be entering the prime years of his career.
The Chiefs are re-signing veteran wide receiver Josh Gordon, who played in five games for Kansas City last season, with five catches for 32 yards and a touchdown. Kansas City is hopeful that an entire offseason of learning Andy Reid’s offense is beneficial for increased numbers for the 10th-year player out of Baylor University.
