Denver Broncos Pro Football Hall of Fame watch

The Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2023 will be inducted Aug. 5. Here are players and a coach from the 2023 Broncos who could join the immortals in Canton someday.

Guaranteed Hall of Famer

Sean Payton, head coach: Payton is one of the best head coaches in the league and deserves a spot in the HOF. He's a Super Bowl champion and has the sixth-most wins (152) among active head coaches. He also created an offense that set an NFL record for yards (7,474) in 2011. 

Payton doesn't have as many Super Bowl titles as Bill Belichick (six) or Andy Reid (two) as a head coach, but his tenure as Saints HC from 2006-21 makes up for that. In New Orleans, he turned a perennial loser into a perennial contender. Before Payton's arrival, New Orleans only had seven winning seasons and one playoff win. Under Payton, it had 10 winning seasons, seven NFC South titles and nine playoff victories. 

Payton has his work cut out for him in Denver after the Broncos went 5-12 last season and have missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons. Nonetheless, Payton is the right coach for a crumbling franchise and could bolster his strong HOF case if the Broncos rebound.

Fringe Hall of Famer

Russell Wilson, quarterback: Yes, Wilson was terrible last season, posting career lows in passing TDs (16) and passer rating (84.4). However, one bad season shouldn't diminish an excellent career. Wilson became a premier player in 11 seasons with the Seahawks, making nine Pro Bowls and leading them to their first Super Bowl title.

Early in his career, Wilson benefited from playing on a talented team that included running back Marshawn Lynch and cornerback Richard Sherman. He has struggled to carry a franchise without a strong supporting cast, unlike other great QBs.

Per Pro Football Reference's HOF monitor, his score of 83.1 is below average for a HOF QB. To re-solidify his status as a potential future HOFer, Wilson must recapture his Pro Bowl form and carry Denver back into the playoffs.

A young player who could develop into a Hall of Famer

Patrick Surtain II, cornerback: Surtain II has only played two seasons, so it's way too early to place him in the above categories, but it's undeniable that he's off to a fabulous start. 

The 23-year-old established himself as one of the best CBs in the league in his second season, making his first Pro Bowl and earning a first-team All-Pro nod. Per Pro Football Focus, he had 12 games allowing fewer than 25 receiving yards last season.

Surtain II is already a lockdown corner, and if he continues on this trajectory, his star will continue to rise, perhaps all the way to Canton.