How big are the stakes for Russell Wilson and the Broncos in 2023?

Russell Wilson joined the Broncos from the Seattle Seahawks in the 2022 offseason in a blockbuster trade that was expected to propel Denver into championship contention.

However, it didn’t pan out how both parties would have hoped for, with the team not even making the playoffs and posting a losing record.

Yet, there is a new dawn in Denver as legendary coach Sean Peyton replaces last season’s head coach Nathaniel Hackett, which has given fans relative optimism about their chances in 2023. The possibility of Payton’s offensive mind unlocking the potential of this Broncos’ squad is a big reason for this, and there is hope this will help to improve Wilson’s game next season.

Has Wilson’s legacy been dented?

Wilson has been one of the better quarterbacks in the league this past decade. He built a great legacy in the NFL with the Seahawks, which included a Super Bowl victory in the 2014 season. You can see the quality of his play when looking at his PFF grades over the years, having graded in the 80’s most of his time in Seattle except for 2020 and 2021 where he had 90 grades. This is why there was a lot of hype when the trade to the Broncos was announced, and as previously stated, it wasn’t the season that they wanted, in which Wilson posted a 66.2 grade. 

There are many factors that led to a poor first season for Denver. A lot of bad play, coined with injuries to their playmakers, contributed largely. Key players such as Javonte Williams and Tim Patrick were unable to give a lot of minutes due to their health, which meant that we were not able to see the best Wilson as he didn’t have all his weapons healthy.

Poor coaching decisions were a problem for the Broncos as game management lost them a lot of games. Delay of game penalties were a big issue for Denver as it cost them a lot of yardage, while Hackett’s mis-management with the clock were nails in his own coffin. Making kicker Brandon McManus attempt a 64-yard field goal was a horror show in Week One, while the Broncos struggled to come back when in losing positions. You can always make the argument that it takes a quarterback a season to get settle with a team.

When you look at the Broncos playmakers on paper, with the likes of Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, it really is a good, solid group players. The addition of Payton is huge as he can bring a massive amount of experience to the team, having built a top-tier offense with the New Orleans Saints.

He knows how to get a star-studded roster to the Super Bowl. The 59-year-old coach knows how to win with all different types of quarterbacks, as he has won with not just Drew Brees, but Teddy Bridgewater, Jameis Winston, and Taysom Hill. This is good news for Wilson as he has a coach that can make him look good with play calling.

All-in-all, Wilson will be working to further his legacy with some success with Denver.