Broncos Should Prepare for Russell Wilson Pursuit in 2016
If this headline of Russell Wilson leaving Seattle in 2016 is anywhere near the truth, the Denver Broncos and John Elway need to be preparing a full-court press to get him in orange and blue at whatever the cost.
The Broncos are set to have potentially a ton of cap space in 2016, so that’s not really an issue, and even if a sign-and-trade had to be worked out (do NFL teams do those?), the Broncos should try to find a way to make it happen.
Of course, Denver wouldn’t be the only team in line for his services should be become a free agent. Even if the Seahawks place the franchise tag on Wilson, he’s not off limits to other teams. This could all become a moot point if/when the Seahawks strike a long-term deal with Wilson, as many still expect, but as PFT laid out, there’s already seemingly an acceptance from Wilson that if he has to move on, he’s willing to do so.
After this season, Brock Osweiler is a free agent. Who knows what will happen with Peyton Manning? Is he going to finish out the fifth year of his contract, or will he retire?
Will the Broncos re-sign Osweiler to a short-term deal to try and see what they’ve got before making a long-term investment in him?
There are so many questions that need answering for the Broncos when it comes to the long-term stability of the quarterback position. It’s rare that players like Wilson would hit the market, in any capacity, and the Seahawks obviously have plenty of time to get a deal done, work something out, and forget any of us ever talked about this.
However, if Wilson for any reason becomes available, he should become a top priority of the Broncos, and at whatever cost. If he wants to be the highest paid player in the league, that’s fine. You sometimes have to make those investments and take those kinds of risks to put yourself in a position to win long-term.
I understand the criticism of Wilson has always been that he’s a product of the Seattle defense, but let’s not forget how he elevated Wisconsin when he transferred there from N.C. State, and let’s not forget his late-game heroics in addition to great play from the Seattle defense.
Plus, is the Broncos’ defense full of chumps? No.
Wilson coming to Denver is a very exciting prospect to think about, as is the prospect of adding any top flight free agent. It’s far too early to make any predictions, but Wilson would be a great fit with the Broncos as well. Gary Kubiak’s offense works best with a quarterback that can move, make good decisions with the football, and get the ball deep downfield.
By my estimation, Russell Wilson is perhaps among the best at all of those things in the NFL right now. It seems awkward to even be talking about him as a possible Broncos quarterback, and at this point that’s only a pipe dream for some (some still don’t like Wilson, and that’s okay), but after what happened in the Super Bowl a couple of seasons ago, there’s a sour taste in Broncos fans’ mouths yet.
If I’m the GM of the Broncos, or any team that has future question marks at the QB position, I’m prepping myself for a run at Wilson come next offseason.