Broncos Sign K'Waun Williams

 The Broncos added a much-needed nickel cornerback when they added K'Wuan Williams from San Francisco. The Broncos had to make a move in their secondary and this move fills that void. The transaction is a 2-year, $5.2 million dollar deal. It is a very affordable contract for a quality player. Williams will be the slot/nickel corner, and he joins Pat Surtain and Ronald Darby as the Broncos top 3 CBs. 

Broncos Re-Sign Josey Jewell

 The Broncos re-signed Inside Linebacker Josey Jewell. Jewell agreed to a 2-year deal worth up to $11M. Getting Jewell back was a solid move for the Broncos. They needed more help inside at LB, and Jewell was playing well until he got injured last year. 

Broncos Sign DE Randy Gregory

 The Broncos added a pass-rusher they desperately needed when they signed edge rusher Randy Gregory from Dallas. Gregory agreed to terms on a 5-year, $70M deal with $28M in guaranteed money. Gregory is a very talented pass rusher, and was a spot that the Broncos needed to add in free agency. They needed to bookend Bradley Chubb with another pass rusher, and they got that with the signing of Gregory. It looked like he was going back to Dallas, but then things suddenly changed and Denver swooped in and got him. I think the Broncos went with Gregory over Von Miller and Chandler Jones because he is cheaper and younger. Gregory does have a history of suspensions due to substance abuse issues, so this signing comes with some risk, but hopefully that is in the past and Gregory will be able to fully contribute to this team this season and beyond.

Broncos Sign D.J. Jones

 The Broncos made their first move in free agency by signing Defensive Tackle D.J. Jones from San Francisco. Jones will step in and replace Shelby Harris, who was traded last week to Seattle in the Russell Wilson deal. The deal is a 3-year, $30M deal with $20M guaranteed. Jones is a quality run-stuffing defensive tackle, and this was a move the Broncos needed to make. They need depth at that position, and they needed to add a run-stopper to the group. The signing of Jones is a good signing in a position of need. 

Broncos Trade for Russell Wilson in Blockbuster Trade

On Tuesday morning, Aaron Rodgers announced that he was going back to the Packers with a contract extension and it looked like Plan A for the Broncos fell through-enter Plan B. The Broncos agreed to terms on a trade with the Seahawks on a massive, blockbuster trade. Denver sends a 2022 1st round pick, a 2022 2nd round pick, a 2023 1st round pick, a 2023 2nd round pick, a 2022 5th round pick, Noah Fant, Drew Lock, and Shelby Harris to Seattle for a 2022 4th round pick and Russell Wilson. This is a huge day in Broncos Country and a move that this franchise had to make at this point. Give George Paton credit because he knew he had to make a big move at QB, and once Rodgers decided he was going back to Green Bay, Paton made the move to get Wilson and give the Broncos a chance to make a run at the Super Bowl with a legitimate Top 10 superstar QB. Make no mistake: This is the biggest day for the Broncos since their Super Bowl 50 win. Here are my immediate thoughts on this trade.....

-First, I know there are going to be people that will say Denver gave up too much, but you can't put a price on franchise QBs. and the Broncos desperately needed to get a top flight QB and Wilson was available, and you had to make the move. You can't worry about the draft picks right now because Wilson could be worth it.

-I love Shelby Harris, and he is our best interior defensive lineman, and I really like Noah Fant, but you don't win a Super Bowl with an interior defensive lineman (unless he is Aaron Donald), and a tight end. The fact that Denver kept all three of their stud WRs (Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, and Courtland Sutton), Javonte Williams, Garrett Bolles, Pat Surtain, Bradley Chubb, or Justin Simmons is pretty amazing. I'll take my chances with the draft picks and adding Russell Wilson to this group. 

-I always liked Drew Lock and was really hopeful that he was going to be the guy in Denver but ultimately after three seasons it looked like Lock was going to be a career backup. It didn't work out for him in Denver, and I hope he finds success in Seattle. 

-There were reports a few months ago that Wilson was looking to get out of Seattle and that Denver was one of his choices if he got traded, but it looked like it wasn't a foregone conclusion that Wilson would be available. It looks like Wilson actually preferred Denver over all of the other teams that were interested in acquiring him, and that makes it very satisfying to see that Denver pulled off this trade.

-Wilson is 33 years old, and has told people that he invests about $1 million dollars a year into his body and nutrition, so he is someone that is looking to play a long time. We could get at least 6 seasons with Wilson before he turns 38. The Broncos could have a franchise QB for the next 5-6 seasons and that makes them contenders in the AFC West and in the entire AFC.

-George Paton had to make this move. Once Rodgers committed going back to Green Bay, he had to get a guy like Russell Wilson. The Broncos are in the AFC West with Patrick Mahomes in KC, Justin Herbert with the Chargers, and Derek Carr in Las Vegas. The Broncos are also in the AFC with other loaded young QBs like Josh Allen in Buffalo, Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, and Joe Burrow in Cincy. The Broncos needed a big upgrade and huge move at the QB position just to have a chance to make the playoffs in the AFC, and this move gives them that chance.

-This is one of the biggest days in Denver Broncos history. It is up there with the Peyton Manning signing in 2012, the John Elway trade in 1983, and of course all the Super Bowl championships, and other playoff victories. This is certainly one of the greatest days in Broncos history.

-This move makes the Broncos relevant again and puts them back on the national stage. The Broncos were boring, irrelevant, and bad the last five years. No one cared about the Broncos the last five years. They were an afterthought, and that is not what this franchise is all about. It is about John Elway and Peyton Manning, big games, national attention, and big moments. That was not there the last five years, and now it is. That means that will get a primetime games, flex games, late afternoon national windows, and big doubleheader games. The trade for Russell Wilson gives them that. The Broncos needed to get back on the national stage and they are back with this trade.

-After six years of going through a horrible carousel of QBs, the Broncos finally landed on a real one in Wilson. To deal with Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, a second shot with Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Drew Lock, Joe Flacco, and Teddy Bridgewater was just one disappointment after another. Every offseason I would have to talk myself into whoever the Broncos were starting and trying REALLY HARD to give myself hope for that season (Lock going into 2020 was the exception), and then I would disappointed as the Broncos fell flat, their offense was shitty, and more questions about the QB remained.

-As long as Russell Wilson stays healthy, he gives this them a real shot to make the playoffs and make a run at the division title and even the Super Bowl. This sends a message to the Chiefs, the Chargers, and the Raiders, that the Broncos are in the mix and will be contenders this year and the foreseeable future. 

-The timing of this whole thing was amazing. This morning, I found out that Aaron Rodgers is going back to Green Bay, and I was completely bummed. I was thinking about how the Broncos are not getting Rodgers, they are probably not getting Wilson, and they are going to end up with someone like Jimmy Garropolo, Carson Wentz, or Marcus Mariota. I was so ticked off that I was actually thinking about not renewing the Sunday Ticket package because this Broncos team was going to suck so bad. Then, about two hours later, I got the text from a friend with the link to the Adam Schefter tweet about how Denver was trading for Russell Wilson. What a cool moment and it reminded me of the day that the Broncos signed Peyton Manning. What a turn of events! 

-Great day for the Broncos and Broncos Country. Can't wait for Wilson to get to Denver and can't wait to see where this ride takes us. Go Broncos!