Why The 2022 Russell Wilson Trade Was A Disaster!

The Broncos were in quarterback purgatory. Since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2016, the franchise had gone through nine different quarterbacks before Wilson. None of the quarterbacks threw for more than 18 touchdowns and made a Pro Bowl.

Denver was also a laughing stock. They went 9-7 in 2016 and, since then, experienced a losing record every year till the trade. The best record it had in that span was going 7-9 in 2019.

Fans and pundits viewed the Broncos as a team that was always just a quarterback away. In 2021, especially, many believed that the play of Lock and Teddy Bridgewater hamstrung the team’s potential. Denver had two running backs, Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams, rush for more than 900 yards each. The defense was ranked third in points per game allowed. All this team needed was good quarterback play, and everything would be fixed.

When Wilson came to town, the expectations skyrocketed. According to Pro Football Reference, the Broncos had eighth best Super Bowl odds, and their over/under on wins was set to 10.5. For a team that hadn’t won 10 games since 2016, that was a massive leap of faith. Many thought that the Kansas City Chiefs were going to be challenged at the top of the division.

General Manager George Paton clearly had a lot of faith in Wilson. Before he played a single snap, the nine-year veteran was given a five-year, 245 million dollar contract extension. It was his time to rise and save a once-proud franchise from purgatory.

Instead, the franchise became the most disappointing team of 2022.

Wilson’s Best Days Were Behind Him

The 2022 Broncos were an abject disaster. The combination of Wilson and first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett had fans questioning their belief in the team. In the opening game of the season, Hackett elected to kick a 60+ yard field goal on fourth and five down 17-16 rather than trust the 250 million dollar quarterback.

The kick was no good as Denver fell to Seattle in Wilson’s revenge game. That moment set the tone for the rest of the season. From week one to week 16, they had the worst offense in the league.

The Broncos were ranked dead last in points per game with 15.5 and dead last in red zone efficiency with 30.2%. The offense had 24 turnovers. Wilson played a huge role in those numbers, throwing for 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions in that span. It was by far the worst football he had ever played.

The offensive incompetence hit a breaking point in week 16 on Christmas. Denver lost 51-14 to an injury-riddled Los Angeles Rams squad in a game where Wilson threw for three interceptions. That game was so bad that Hackett was fired before finishing a full season. That was the first time the franchise had ever canned a coach before completing a year.

All hope seemed to be lost at the moment, but weeks 17 and 18 gave a glimmer of hope for next season. After Hackett’s departure, the offense and Wilson looked much better. In the two games, Denver averaged 27.5 points per game, and Wilson scored six total touchdowns in that span. Many believed that perhaps the coach was the issue.

With the team hiring Sean Payton in the 2023 offseason, a bit of faith was restored after a tumultuous season. The 2023 season, while better, was not good enough in the end. The Broncos started 1-5, with the defense being a major issue, allowing 70 in one of the games.

The defense then tightened up, which allowed Denver to win six of their next seven game to sit at 7-6. The Broncos had to win three of the last four games to have a real chance at the postseason. In week 15, they faced a good Detroit Lions team and lost 42-17, with Wilson throwing for 223 yards and just one touchdown. A few weeks earlier, Denver lost to the Houston Texans in a 6-5 game.

That game had major playoff implications, and Wilson threw three interceptions. Next came the worst loss of the season. Denver faced a 3-11 New England Patriots team at home. The team essentially needed to win out and have a chance.

The Broncos lost that game, and Wilson was benched. He was yanked from the starting job, so the team wasn’t forced to keep him if he were otherwise injured in the final two games.

It was clear that Denver wasn’t going anywhere with Wilson. Despite his fine numbers in 2023, throwing for 26 touchdowns to just eight interceptions, he didn’t come through in big games. When you pay a quarterback an insane amount of money, it’s so he wins the big games and big moments. Wilson was nothing more than a game manager.

The Broncos cut Wilson in the 2024 offseason and decided to eat the 85 million dollar dead cap.

End Of My Russell Wilson Rant

The trade in 2022 was meant to provide hope to a reeling franchise. Instead, it pushed them further into the pit of misery. Upon cutting Wilson, many believed that Denver was going to struggle for a long time.

To everyone’s surprise, that was not the case. The Broncos drafted Bo Nix in 2024, and Payton was able to get the best out of him in his first two seasons with a handicapped roster. They won 24 games in 2024 and 2025 combined and made the playoffs each time.

It has been an incredible recovery after what was a dark time in Broncos history. They are also free from the cap hit entering the 2026 NFL season.