The Denver Broncos still don’t have a settled quarterback position, despite the offseason acquisition of Russell Wilson.
Many Broncos fans will likely be willing to debate that statement, arguing that Russell Wilson is still a top-tier quarterback, but based on what we have seen so far this season, that simply is not the case and it’s not really even close.
Wilson has struggled in five games as the starting quarterback for the Broncos as has the entire offensive unit. There is blame to be spread around, to be sure, but ultimately, most of the blame will fall on the shoulders of the quarterback who was supposed to be the reason the franchise finally started to turn things around.
In addition to completing less than 60 percent of his throws so far this season, Wilson has been playing through an injury. The team’s primary backup is Brett Rypien and while Josh Johnson remains on the practice squad, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell came up with this trade proposal for the team ahead of the trade deadline.
Could the Broncos trade for QB Mitch Trubisky?
Before the Broncos traded for Wilson back in March, the team was tied to Mitch Trubisky as a potential free-agent signing. Trubisky ended up inking a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers but after just four games as the team’s starter, he was benched in favor of first-round pick Kenny Pickett.
That is a job that Trubisky is not getting back.
Trubisky has struggled this season, completing just 59.5 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions. But he would be an upgrade over Rypien and a player the Broncos could turn to in the short term if Wilson’s shoulder injury becomes any worse.
Though Wilson has had treatment on the shoulder, it could become a nagging thing.
In return, the Broncos would give the Steelers Albert Okwuegbunam, a player who has been a massive disappointment this season. The Broncos don’t necessarily have a stacked tight end room and Okwuegbunam still can’t find the field. Eric Saubert, Andrew Beck and Eric Tomlinson all seem to be a bigger part of the team’s offensive plans.
Trading Okwuegbunam almost seems like a must at this point, as I suggested here.
Much of this will depend on how the Broncos’ next three games go as the trade deadline is scheduled for November 1. If the Broncos lose all three of those games or even two of the three, they should look into being sellers at the deadline, rather than buyers.