Revisiting the Denver Broncos trade package for Russell Wilson
The Denver Broncos made a blockbuster trade for Russell Wilson in the 2022 offseason. Only three months in, we revisit the package sent to Seattle.
It’s barely been three months since Denver Broncos general manager George Paton struck up a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Russell Wilson.
The trade itself was a stunner given the fact that just about everyone in Broncos Country had been disappointed about an hour before the trade news broke.
It feels like a distant memory at this point, but the Russell Wilson trade news came on the heels of the news that Aaron Rodgers was staying with the Green Bay Packers, eliminating him as an option for the Denver Broncos (if he ever was one in the first place).
The initial terms of the Wilson trade were stunning, and rightfully so. The Denver Broncos paid a premium to get an elite quarterback.
The original Russell Wilson trade terms
In order to get out of quarterback purgatory, the Denver Broncos paid a price that frankly wouldn’t have been too high no matter what.
Draft capital is borderline negligible compared to having a QB in place, and the Broncos already had a strong roster without the picks.
Is it going to be tough to watch the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft?
Sure, but there is still a chance the Broncos and general manager George Paton could work some magic to get inside the top 64 picks next year.
Even if they don’t, who really cares?
The Broncos have a new owner who will be able to provide the team with the stream of cash necessary to be aggressive in free agency and trades for the foreseeable future.
Paton will be able to utilize 2024 picks if he so chooses to target players in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Let’s take a look at the breakdown of this trade for both sides now that some actual players are involved.