The Denver Broncos just pushed all their chips to the middle of table.
The massive haul they gave up to acquire Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks signaled that they’re going all in for a Super Bowl, preferably next season but definitely before the end of his contract.
The trade moved their championship odds to +1200 on Tipico Sportsbook, tied for fifth best in the NFL.
It’s a risky move. They sacrificed tons of draft capital, potential building blocks for an already talented roster. They parted with some of that talent, too, giving up tight end Noah Fant and defensive tackle Shelby Harris.
Trade package:
Seattle gets QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick.
Denver gets Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2022
But as the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams just showed this past season, it’s a risk worth taking. If you believe you’re a quarterback away, you do what it takes to get that quarterback, short of dismantling the roster needed to accomplish the ultimate goal.
The Broncos know this all too well after signing Peyton Manning as the last piece to their Super Bowl title in 2015. That’s what they’re doing again here. And in a vacuum it may seem like they gave up a lot. But considering what the Rams traded away to acquire a less accomplished player, the Broncos did pretty good.
For Matthew Stafford, who was a 33-year-old one-time Pro Bowler with no playoff wins before last season, the Rams gave up two first-round picks, a third-round pick and their incumbent QB Jared Goff.
For Wilson, also 33 and already a Super Bowl champion and two-time conference champ with nine Pro Bowls to his name, the Broncos gave up two-first round picks, two seconds, a fifth, incumbent QB Drew Lock and the previously two mentioned players.
The difference is two draft picks outside the first round and two players who the Broncos probably won’t miss much. For a team that managed to go 7-10 playing in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions with sub-par quarterback play last season — with a defense that allowed the third fewest points per game to thank — that’s a deal you have to make.
At the very least, the Broncos become more competitive with the likes of Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs, Justin Herbert’s Chargers, and if he stays, Derek Carr’s Raiders in the AFC West. At most, the Broncos had a roster ready to win now and Wilson made them into a legit Super Bowl contender.
