20 Reasons Russell Wilson Could Make The Broncos Super Bowl Contenders

18. Brutal AFC West

The AFC West is now not only the toughest division in football but arguably the toughest division in recent NFL history. Each of the starting quarterbacks is a genuine star. The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes while Justin Herbert starts for the Chargers. Meanwhile, Derek Carr remains underrated as a member of the Raiders. The Broncos needed to find a franchise QB to bring them to the next level.

Wilson is as good as it gets. If they have any hope of winning a Super Bowl then they must get through the AFC West. The offseason may even feel like a relief after this. Furthermore, it’s a chance for Wilson to prove himself against the likes of Mahomes. He may even be in line for an MVP award if everything goes well. Suddenly the Broncos will be able to compete in their division (via The Spun).

17. Excellent Running Game

Wilson has maintained a fantastic quarterback rating in Seattle. This won’t change in Denver because the Broncos are powerful in the run department. The last time Wilson enjoyed a unit with this much talent he had Marshawn Lynch as a teammate. However, since Lynch’s retirement, Seattle has been more inconsistent in this area (via Sports Illustrated).

But this won’t be a problem with the Broncos thanks to rising star back Javonte Williams and a solid line. It will be exciting to see them attempt to marry the run and pass. Wilson isn’t as spectacular as a Mahomes or an Allen. Fortunately, he is superb at bringing the best out of his teammates. Only time will tell if he can achieve this in his new home. If he can, he’ll surely bring them to the playoffs again.

16. Inspire the Fans

Denver fans haven’t had a lot to cheer about over the past few seasons. They haven’t made the playoffs since Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset. Yes, they won a Super Bowl, but it came at a price. The team instantly went into a rebuilding phase. Since then, Denver fans have seen 12 quarterbacks in six years. None of them has been close to good enough but that’s set to change (via Denver Post).

Wilson is an elite talent and arrives in the prime of his career. Some doubts indeed linger about his finger injury. But assuming that this heals properly over the offseason, fans are in for a treat. Suddenly, there is genuine hope in Denver. Teddy Bridgewater is a decent QB but he’s not a generational talent. Now the Broncos have a bonafide Hall of Famer on their hands.

15. Ease the Burden

There are justifiable misgivings about Denver’s new coaching staff and their lack of experience. However, Wilson is the perfect tonic. If the Broncos are like a teenage boy, then Wilson is Mrs. Robinson. The experienced quarterback will help Nathaniel Hackett and ease his burden. Quarterbacks are unique because they have a close relationship with their coordinators.

Wilson will help construct the offense because it must maximize his talents. This is much easier to do with a professional veteran than a young upstart. Of course, his presence creates pressure of another kind. If they have another losing season and perform miserably, fans will point fingers. Nonetheless, he can help turn them into Super Bowl contenders again (via The Atheltic).

14. Time to Build

Most people believe that Aaron Rodgers was the Broncos’ first choice. But this may turn out to be a more pragmatic piece of business. While many fans are excited and want instant success, the reality is that it may take longer. Fortunately, they have time. Wilson is only 33 whereas Rodgers is 38. Even if it takes him a season to get to grips with a new playbook, it’s not the end of the world.

In an ideal world, Denver will compete in the postseason. Even if they don’t, they can take their time and build a team that is strong enough to win. There is less pressure to win immediately than with Rodgers. In the long term, this is a good thing because it’s a high-risk strategy. We’ve seen several teams win a Super Bowl before collapsing into obscurity after (via Fansided).

13. History Repeating

There is nothing scientific to base this off but we all remember what happened the last time Denver got a veteran QB. They made two Super Bowl appearances and won one. Russell Wilson isn’t Peyton Manning but he comes with his advantages. Firstly, he isn’t old and he’s also less injury-stricken. However, he may have a similar positive effect on the organization.

Denver believes that this is their time or they wouldn’t have made this gamble. They think that Wilson can lead them back to glory. He will want to follow in Manning’s footsteps and show that he’s a true leader. Wilson is also more productive than Manning was in his final season in Denver. So it should be a positive start to life in Colorado.

12. Top 10 Pass Defense

Denver has a top-10 pass defense in 2021. They were excellent at stopping opposing quarterbacks from getting to work. This is crucial in the ultra-competitive AFC West with its elite crop of QBs. However, the quarterback position itself let the Broncos down. Now they are a much more balanced unit. If they can marry these two areas then they will be a serious contender.

Maintaining that pass defense record is crucial because it will ease the burden on Wilson. As long as everybody is doing their bit, then he can work with less pressure. He won’t feel like he needs to pull a rabbit out of a hat every time he has the ball. This is better for everybody. Defense is key when it comes to winning championships so it’s important to keep this going (via 11 Alive).

11. Good Fit

Wilson is a superstar but he’s not a diva like some other players we could mention. Yes, we’re talking about Aaron Rodgers. Of course, they wanted him first but now it has emerged that he manipulated the Broncos for his ends. This was to lure the Packers into giving him a massive contract. It was incredibly cynical but savvy from the Green Bay legend (via Sportscasting).

However, many NFL fans believe that his image is deteriorating. His attitude toward vaccines rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way in 2021. Meanwhile, Wilson brings less drama and has a squeaky-clean image. That’s the type of character that most franchises want. He’s got the skills but doesn’t bring any baggage with him. Except for Ciara, but we’ll let him get away with that one.

10. Fresh Start

A fresh start may revive Wilson after several years of treading water. It looked like the Seahawks were on course for a dynasty of success. This didn’t happen for several reasons. Then, the Legion of Boom fizzled out with a tired squeak. There are questions over Pete Carroll’s ability to lead the team forward. Nobody doubts his devotion but there are signs that things are stale.

Most people expected Seattle to cut ties with either their coach or quarterback. In the end, they went with the latter and this may prove to be a massive mistake. However, their loss is Denver’s game because it may light a fire underneath him. Wilson has everything to prove and this will surely motivate him. It’s an exciting time for his fans (via Seattle Times).

9. Added Value

The Pat Bowlen Trust is selling the Denver Broncos after taking over the franchise in 1984. It will likely become the most expensive franchise in the history of U.S. sports. The team carries a value of about $4 billion. Meanwhile, the addition of Wilson will make the team even more desirable. That’s because they are in a position where they can compete for success.

The side-effect of this is that owners may be tempted to invest more in the team. Wilson isn’t the only reason why somebody would buy the Broncos. But having him on their books won’t hurt because he’s a genuine superstar. If they want to win a Super Bowl, they’re in a great position. In the short term, Wilson could inspire a potential owner into an emotional decision (via ESPN).

8. Closing the Gap

Patrick Mahomes finished 2021 with a quarterback rating of 62.6. Meanwhile, Wilson had a rating of 53.9. It should be noted that Wilson’s statistics were higher before his injury. Furthermore, Mahomes has superior weapons than the Seattle receivers corps. Meanwhile, Teddy Bridgewater only had a rating of 47.7. The difference is substantial (via PFF).

Wilson’s record was superior to Derek Carr’s. However, it was well short of Justin Herbert’s 66.1. It will be interesting to see how Wilson adapts to his new system and teammates. He must close the gap on Mahomes and Herbert to make the difference for the Broncos. Each of these teams will strengthen in the offseason but Denver is in a good position.

7. Self-Belief

Wilson is one of the most driven players in the NFL. According to People, he spends about a million dollars per year on his body for football. He participates in detox challenges where he removes red meat and dairy products from his diet. Meanwhile, he refuses to compromise on his recovery and personal health. Wilson says that he wants to play until he’s 45.

That may not happen but there’s no doubt that he’s a true professional. He has his performance team including masseuses, chefs, and physical therapists. This quarterback leaves nothing to chance. It’s difficult to imagine Drew Lock going as far as this. In short, Wilson wants to win. That makes him the perfect fit to lead Denver to the promised land.

6. Playoff Record

It’s fascinating comparing Wilson’s playoff record with that of Aaron Rodgers. Wilson has played in 16 postseason games with a winning percentage of .563. That comes to nine wins and seven losses. Meanwhile, Rodgers has made more playoff appearances with 21 games. This leaves him with 12 wins and nine losses. Despite the extra defeat, he has a slightly higher winning percentage of .571.

In short, these statistics are very similar. There isn’t much to suggest that the Broncos lose much by trading for Wilson instead of Rodgers. Sure, the two players are stylistically different. However, Wilson is a consistent player and has featured for a weaker team than his rival. Now the Broncos must maximize his abilities and hope that he can lead them through the playoffs (via Statmuse).

5. Sensible Moves

While some believe that the new coaching staff is a gamble, it appears as though Denver is making sensible moves.  Wilson may not be the best or most spectacular quarterback in the AFC West. But he doesn’t have to be. What he needs is to be consistent. Matthew Stafford was statistically the third-best QB in the NFC West before 2021. Then, the Rams won the Super Bowl.

It helps to have the greatest QB but it doesn’t guarantee success. Just ask Dan Marino or Rodgers. It’s all about building a balanced roster and having pieces that work well in that system. Patrick Mahomes may shine on an individual basis but Wilson may prove more important to his team. It’s going to be fascinating to watch, but it appears to be the right decision (via The Ringer).

4. Top Receivers

It’s remarkable but Wilson hasn’t thrown the ball much over the past few years. Pete Carroll prefers running the ball with a strong defense. This was one of the reasons why Wilson became frustrated in Seattle. He wanted to adopt a more receiver-friendly system. Now, he will enjoy one of the most talented receiver corps in the entire NFL (via Fansided).

Jerry Jeudy is a phenomenal athlete. Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick are exciting wideouts too. With Nathaniel Hackett in charge, it’s a guarantee that fans will see Wilson pass more. It’s conceivable that each of their receivers will break 850 yards in 2022. If they do, then Wilson will be the conductor of an electrifying offense. That bodes well for their Super Bowl hopes.

3. Massive Upgrade

The Broncos have had appalling quarterbacks over the years. Let’s not forget that some fans were happy that they signed Teddy Bridgewater in 2021. At least they knew what they were getting. However, some garbage players have passed through their gates in recent years. Drew Lock is one of the most obvious disappointments, but the list goes on and on (via The Ringer).

Remember when the Texans gave Denver a draft pick to take Brock Osweiler back? Meanwhile, the Broncos paid Case Keenum a ludicrous $18 million for 16 games. Trevor Siemian started for two seasons too. Furthermore, they released Paxton Lynch after just four games. There was also an overcooked Joe Flacco at one point. It’s been a rough ride but Wilson is here to change that.

2. MVP Potential

Insanely, no voter has ever selected Russell Wilson for the prestigious MVP award. That’s even though he’s one of the league’s most consistent players. That’s not to say that he should have won it, but at the very least he should be in the running. It’s safe to say that Wilson has an eye on this individual prize. He would surely love to have this accolade.

The odds of Wilson winning the MVP award are down from +3000 to +1400 (via Yahoo!) To put this into perspective, only four other players have lower odds. The odds may decrease again if Wilson settles into life in Denver quickly. It appears as though the oddsmakers believe that Wilson and the Broncos are a match made in heaven. That’s great for their Super Bowl dreams.

1. Raised Levels

The moment Wilson steps into the Broncos locker room the entire team will sit up and pay attention. That wouldn’t happen with a rookie, even if they’re a number one pick. Nor would it feel the same if it was an established mid-tier QB like Kirk Cousins. Wilson is an elite superstar and not many NFL teams get their hands on these in their prime.

It’s highly likely that the opportunity to play with such a legend will improve the Broncos’ psychological levels. It’s not just about Wilson’s ability on the field but also the confidence he exudes. Meanwhile, he brings a phenomenal resume with him. This will inspire his teammates and help them in their pursuit of glory. Of course, this brings pressure but it’s an exciting moment.