The Denver Broncos finally have their franchise quarterback, and it isn’t reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. Instead, the Broncos made a deal with the Seattle Seahawks and will have Pro Bowler Russell Wilson under center in 2022 and beyond.
The trade can’t be official before the start of the new league year, but the terms of the deal are already out there. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the trade package that the Seahawks received includes third-year QB Drew Lock, former first-round tight end Noah Fant, and defensive lineman Shelby Harris. Seattle is also getting two first-round picks, two second-round selections, and a fifth-rounder. As a part of the agreement, the Broncos will get Seattle’s fourth-round pick in 2022.
In order to facilitate the deal, Wilson waved his no-trade clause. The 33-year-old is already in Denver, where he passed his physical.
Many believed that the Broncos were zeroed in on Rodgers as their preferred target, but sources around the league say that Denver never actually made an offer to the Green Bay Packers. Instead, they engaged in Wilson trade talks with the Seahawks several weeks ago and managed to hammer out a deal in recent days.
The Broncos’ motivation is clear. They have a talented young roster, for which many believe is only a QB away from being a Super Bowl contender. In Russell Wilson, they get a star who can maximize their potential while ending their exhausting search for a franchise quarterback that started when Peyton Manning retired.
The Seahawks, on the other hand, hit the reset button after realizing that they probably reached their ceiling with the current roster. They also speed up the inevitable divorce with Wilson, considering that the veteran already had issues with the organization and signaled he wanted out.
Wilson made 158 starts for Seattle since the franchise drafted him in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. He has 104 wins, most by a QB in the history through his first 10 seasons in the league, and has helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII. His individual accolades include nine Pro Bowl nods and one All-Pro selection.
