Six years and two days to the day of Peyton Manning's retirement, the Broncos have hope again. After a quarterback carousel that saw guys like Trevor Siemian, Joe Flacco, Case Keenum, Drew Lock, and Teddy Bridgewater (and with that one Kendall Hinton game), they have an elite QB again.
Russell Wilson has been a magician throughout his career who can make something out of nothing. He helped the Seahawks win a Super Bowl, and have led them to win many other big games.
The common refrain in the last six years for the Broncos is that they have the talent to be a playoff team, but poor quarterback play has dragged them down. That is about to change this season with Wilson at the helm.
Elite quarterbacks have turned around franchises before. If Manning, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Kurt Warner and Joe Montana can transform teams in their 30s, it's highly likely that Wilson can do the same.
It's a huge addition for Denver. So much so that it overshadows the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett, who comes over after being the Packers' offensive coordinator.
Credit to GM George Paton for figuring out how to fix the QB position. Even if it came at the cost of five picks, Lock, Noah Fant, and Shelby Harris, it's still a win-win trade. There's also the addition of Randy Gregory, who was signed to a five-year deal at $70 million. It's risky, but the Broncos are looking for more on the pass rush.
To add to the defense are signing DJ Jones and Alex Singleton, replacing Kyle Fuller with K'Waun Williams, and drafting Nik Bonitto with the last pick of the second round.
Their defense ranked 3rd in points allowed and 8th in yards allowed last season, but were 20th in Football Outsiders' DVOA, making them a little overrated heading into the season. They forced six fumbles, the lowest in the league, had 16 picks, which was in the middle of the pack, and their 36 sacks ranked 18th. But there's still a lot to like about the defense. Justin Simmons is a top 3 safety, Pat Surtain II is already a star corner, and the front seven has DJ Jones and Gregory joining Bradley Chubb, Dre'Mont Jones, among others.
The big question surrounds who will break out offensively. The pre-Russ Broncos relied a lot on the run game, and for good reason. Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams each topped 900 yards last season, Williams was impressive as a rookie, so it's likely he can take on a bigger role in 2022.
Because Hackett is running the offense, don't expect him limiting Wilson the way the Seahawks did. Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy are poised to have breakout seasons. Jeudy was criticized for a poor 2021, but an ankle injury in Week 1 stunted his growth. Tim Patrick is perhaps the most underrated WR in the league as well, but suffered a torn ACL in practice that prematurely ended his season, so look for a breakout from KJ Hamler.
At TE, look out for a breakout season from Albert Okwuegbunam with Fant off to Seattle. Backups like Montrell Washington and Greg Dulcich can emerge with opportunity.
It wouldn't be surprising if a rejuvenated Wilson has a career year. The AFC West is absolutely loaded, and a division champion isn't clear at this point. You can make an argument for the Broncos because they have, at the highest, shades of the 2020 Buccaneers.
Draft Picks
Round | Pick | Position | Player | College |
2 | 64 | LB | Nik Bonitto | Oklahoma |
3 | 80 | TE | Greg Dulcich | UCLA |
4 | 115 | CB | Damarri Mathis | Pittsburgh |
4 | 116 | DE | Eyioma Uwazurike | Iowa State |
5 | 152 | S | Delarrin Turner-Yell | Oklahoma |
5 | 162 | WR | Montrell Washington | Samford |
5 | 171 | C | Luke Wattenburg | Washington |
6 | 206 | DE | Matt Henningsen | Wisconsin |
7 | 232 | CB | Faion Hicks | Wisconsin |
Key Losses
DL Shelby Harris: Traded to Seahawks
TE Noah Fant: Traded to Seahawks
WR Tim Patrick: Out for season—torn ACL
CB Kyle Fuller: Signed with Ravens
ILB Micah Kiser: Signed with Raiders
CB Bryce Callahan: Signed with Chargers
OLB Stephen Weatherly: Signed with Browns
ILB Kenny Young: Signed with Raiders
ILB AJ Johnson: Unsigned free agent
DL Shamar Stephen: Unsigned free agent
OT Bobby Massie: Unsigned free agent
QB Drew Lock: Traded to Seahawks
WR Diontae Spencer: Unsigned free agent
RB Damarea Crockett: Out for season—torn ACL
Key Additions & Extensions
QB Russell Wilson: Acquired via trade from Seahawks
OLB Randy Gregory: 5-year deal, $70 million
DL DJ Jones: 3-year deal, $30 million
RB Melvin Gordon III: 1-year extension
CB K'Waun Williams: 2-year deal
OT Billy Turner: 1-year deal
S Kareem Jackson: 1-year extension
ILB Josey Jewell: 2-year extension
ILB Alex Singleton: 1-year deal
OL Tom Compton: 1-year deal
OLB Malik Reed: Signed RFA tender
CB Essang Bassey: Claimed off waivers from Chargers
OT Calvin Anderson: 1-year extension
TE/FB Andrew Beck: 1-year extension
TE Eric Tomlinson: 1-year deal
Biggest Questions
How will the Broncos split carries between Melvin Gordon III and Javonte Williams?
Who will win the starting spots on the offensive line?
Who emerges at inside linebacker?
How will Albert Okwuegbunam and Greg Dulcich be utilized?
Who will be the backup to Russell Wilson?
Schedule
Week 1: Monday, 9/12, at Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 PM on ESPN
Week 2: Sunday, 9/18, vs. Houston Texans, 4:25 PM on CBS
Week 3: Sunday, 9/25, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 PM on NBC
Week 4: Sunday, 10/2, at Las Vegas Raiders, 4:25 PM on CBS
Week 5: Thursday, 10/6, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 8:15 PM on AMAZON PRIME
Week 6: Monday, 10/17, at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 PM on ESPN
Week 7: Sunday, 10/23, vs. New York Jets, 4:05 PM on CBS
Week 8: Sunday, 10/30, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 9:30 AM on ESPN+ (Game played at London)
Week 9: BYE WEEK
Week 10: Sunday, 11/13, at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 11: Sunday, 11/20, vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 4:05 PM on FOX
Week 12: Sunday, 11/27, at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 13: Sunday, 12/4, at Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 14: Sunday, 12/11, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 PM on NBC
Week 15: Sunday, 12/18, vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 PM on FOX
Week 16: Sunday, 12/25, at Los Angeles Rams, 4:30 PM on CBS
Week 17: Sunday, 1/1, at Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 18: 1/7 or 1/8, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Time and network TBD
Projected Starters
1 RB 3 WR 1 TE Offense
Position | # | Player |
QB | 3 | Russell Wilson |
RB | 33 | Javonte Williams |
WR | 14 | Courtland Sutton |
WR | 10 | Jerry Jeudy |
WR | 1 | KJ Hamler |
TE | 85 | Albert Okwuegbunam |
LT | 72 | Garett Bolles |
LG | 66 | Dalton Risner |
C | 79 | Lloyd Cushenberry III |
RG | 77 | Quinn Meinerz |
RT | 57 | Billy Turner |
Nickel Defense
Position | # | Player |
DL | 97 | DJ Jones |
DL | 93 | Dre'Mont Jones |
OLB | 55 | Bradley Chubb |
ILB | 49 | Alex Singleton |
ILB | 47 | Josey Jewell |
OLB | 5 | Randy Gregory |
CB | 2 | Pat Surtain II |
NB | 21 | K'Waun Williams |
SS | 22 | Kareem Jackson |
FS | 31 | Justin Simmons |
CB | 23 | Ronald Darby |
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