The Broncos Have Their Man: Team Makes History With Latest Extension
The Broncos have their man! They inked their franchise cornerstone to a five-year mega-extension on Thursday that will keep him with the team for at least the next four seasons.
Thursday morning, the Denver Broncos locked up quarterback Russell Wilson with a 5-year $245 million extension, including $165 million guaranteed. This will add on to the two remaining years on Wilson’s previous contract to make him a Bronco for the next four years at least. Broncos Country is ready to ride and we have George Patton to thank.
Whatever you think Wilson will look like at quarterback for the Broncos, there is no denying he has deserved a franchise to put all their hope into him leading the team. While Wilson has shockingly never received an MVP vote, he still has an impressive resume as a Super Bowl champion; not to mention he was one yard away from being a back-to-back champion. He’s been to nine Pro-Bowls, he’s won the most games for any QB in his first ten years, and is second to the one and only Peyton Manning for touchdowns thrown in the first ten years of his NFL career. To say that isn’t impressive would be ridiculous.
To question whether this is 100% the right move for Denver is fair. He is 33 years old and has made the most of his career with his legs. We are about ten days away from seeing his first game in a Broncos uniform. While one game won’t define what his future could look like with Denver, it would help if he looks worth his contract in that first game. It is not the biggest game of his career but certainly an important one for his story, and it just became a little bit bigger with this fresh news of his new contract.
Broncos General Manager, George Patton, Is Hungry To Win
The greatest QB in Broncos franchise history, John Elway, was exactly what Denver needed when he was hired as GM back in 2011. It resulted in a Super Bowl 50 championship and was a successful run during the first five years of his tenure. The success, unfortunately, did not continue after Super Bowl 50, which led the Broncos to look for a new GM after the 2020-21 season. George Patton stepped into the role after being with the Vikings for 14 years assisting the Vikings GM.
While Pat Surtain II was a controversial pick at number nine during the 2021 draft, it looks like that pick was a hit. Surtain II is looking to have a breakout year after having a very intriguing rookie year. Javonte Williams was selected by the Broncos in the second round after they had traded up to be able to draft him. Williams also looks like a hit after having an extraordinary rookie season splitting carries with Melvin Gordon and breaking 76 tackles on 157 carries.
Patton then went out and shocked the NFL world and traded a massive haul away for Hall Of Fame QB Russell Wilson early in March. Since then, he has put together the best possible roster to have success in Nathaniel Hackett’s first year as Head Coach and just signed Russell Wilson to a massive deal to keep him in Denver until at least 2028. To say the least, it is a solid start for Patton with his new team.
The Broncos Are Ready To Ride With $165 Million Guaranteed
Thursday afternoon, a few hours after the news was broken that Wilson would be officially signing the contract a press conference took place at UC Health Training Center in Dove Valley. George Patton, Nathaniel Hackett, and Russell Wilson were the ones leading the press conference. Patton was obviously super excited that they were able to get the deal done. He loves Wilson’s work ethic and his drive to win.
Hackett also expressed his happiness about the deal getting done, but also mentioned that it is “time to go”.
"The No. 1 focus is winning. That's why I came here." 👊, @DangeRussWilson pic.twitter.com/U4U7Ug1UIQ — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 1, 2022
Wilson, excited about the contract but similar to Hackett, explained that it is time to go. Based on the vibe picked up from the press conference it seemed and was mentioned several times that all parties involved had great communication. In my eyes, that is something he may not have had in Seattle, and if that is the case, it must be a breath of fresh air to be involved with this new group. It’s unbelievable the dedication Russell Wilson has for winning. His teammates, coaches, and anyone close to him knows that and he always mentions it whenever he has a chance.
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