New Denver Broncos general manager George Paton vowed at his introductory press conference that he was going to be “in” every deal and that he was going to be aggressive but not reckless when it comes to building the team into a contender.
It just so happens he has stepped into a general manager job in a year when quarterback rumors seem to be running more rampant than ever before.
As a matter of fact, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said before any quarterbacks had changed teams (three starters have since been traded) he felt like more than 18 teams would have different quarterback situations in 2021 than they did in 2020.
The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams agreed to a blockbuster deal involving former no. 1 overall picks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff. The Philadelphia Eagles sent Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts.
Of course now, the primary focus of the rumor mill is Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has asked the team for a trade. Not only that, but it has been confirmed by Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson that Watson — who has a no-trade clause and can essentially pick where he wants to be traded — would be interested in the Broncos.
There are other big names that could be available for the right price.
Let’s be real, though. Until something crazy actually happens, it feels like even a trade of Deshaun Watson is remote because of how valuable these quarterbacks are to their respective franchises.
Though the chances are remote, and we cannot stress that enough, what if the Denver Broncos make teams offers they can’t refuse? What if the Denver Broncos are on the receiving end of a blockbuster quarterback trade in the 2021 offseason?
Although the focus lately has been on Deshaun Watson, there might be some additional options around the league worth looking into. Let’s take a look at four of them.
Denver Broncos 2021 blockbuster QB trade options
1. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (age: 32)
It seems weird to even be talking about the possibility of Russell Wilson being traded by the Seattle Seahawks, but is it an impossible idea at this point?
Maybe, maybe not.
Are the #Seahawks listening to offers on Russell Wilson? @MikeSilver gives us an update.
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) February 23, 2021
For Michael's full appearance: https://t.co/YRUiQ5frbD pic.twitter.com/010a1T5NQJ
This is a very interesting bit of info from Michael Silver about the Seahawks’ attitude towards the possibility of trading Wilson, which initially came up with Wilson wanting to be involved in picking the new offensive coordinator in Seattle as well as his frustration with the offensive line’s play in recent years.
According to Silver, the starting place for a Russell Wilson trade is three first-round picks. Let’s say the Denver Broncos offered them exactly that.
Broncos get:
- QB Russell Wilson
Seahawks get:
- 2021 1st-round pick (9th overall)
- 2022 1st-round pick
- 2023 1st-round pick
Would you pull the trigger on that deal?
If the Seahawks are willing to do it, how could you not do that?
Wilson is 32 and will not be 33 until November. He has never — and I cannot stress that enough, never — missed a game in the NFL, despite the Seahawks’ offensive line play being poor at times.
He was still playing at an MVP level last season even though his play dropped off in the second half of the season a bit.
Even if the Seahawks asked the Broncos for quarterback Drew Lock and another day two draft pick or two, who really cares about those picks if you keep the majority of your roster core intact?
The draft picks are unknown commodities. Russell Wilson is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback whose teams in the NFL have never won fewer than nine games. As a matter of fact, Wilson’s Seahawks have only ever won less than 10 games one time.
This is a guy who raises all boats and imagining him throwing to Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Noah Fant, and the rest of the offensive core weaponry in Denver?
That could be something else.
If the baseline price is three first-round picks but the return is Russell Wilson, the draft compensation is borderline negligible at that point.
A deal like this would require Wilson to force his way out of Seattle and because of his no-trade clause, he would essentially have to choose Denver as well.