The Denver Broncos have made waves in the NFL draft this weekend with their trade for Russell Wilson. With three straight picks at the end of Round 1, here are some things they can do.
The “who is russell wilson” was a trade that the Denver Broncos made with the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos traded for Russell Wilson in order to get their backup quarterback and future Hall of Fame player.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Denver Broncos picked quarterback Russell Wilson with the ninth overall choice in the 2022 NFL draft.
The Broncos made a commitment to Wilson when they traded five draft selections to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for him, including the No. 9 pick this year and their first-round pick next year. But it was also based on the notion that they could still manipulate the selection to their advantage, particularly on Day 2.
“I constantly speak about flexibility,” general manager George Paton said earlier this offseason. “Flexibility in the draft, flexibility in the summer, and flexibility in free agency.” “We had the ability to make a move if we needed to [for Wilson], and this helps to mitigate the loss of the draft selections. We have a total of nine options. One second, two thirds, and two fourths are available. We have complete freedom to do anything we want and feel great about it.”
With the exception of an unforeseen trade back into the first round, the Broncos’ 2022 draft class will be decided on Day 2 and the first hour of Day 3. The Broncos have nine choices in the draft, five of which are in the first 116 picks.
“We feel like we have a lot of draft capital even after [the Wilson deal],” Paton said. “… There are certain things we can do.”
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Last year, on Day 2 of the draft, Paton’s first as general manager, the Broncos landed three players who combined to play in 46 games as rookies, starting 19 of them.
Last year, the Broncos selected running back Javonte Williams in the second round (moving up from No. 40 to No. 35) and center Quinn Meinerz and linebacker Baron Browning in the third round. With the addition of first-round cornerback Pat Surtain II, fifth-round safety Cade Sterns, and seventh-round defensive end/outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, the Broncos had six rookies play in least 14 games. At least one game was begun by each of the six players.
It was such a successful draft weekend that the Broncos’ scouting peers voted it the best class in the league, an honor Paton and the team’s scouting staff got at this year’s scouting combine.
“It gives you the idea that they genuinely wanted you to be a part of their squad when someone moves up and then grabs you,” Williams said. “My attitude is to constantly demonstrate to my teammates that I am committed to helping them win, no matter what it takes. I believe our whole group [as rookies] came in with the mindset that all we wanted to do was help the team win and be ready to play if they placed us on the field.”
Other positions on the roster have seen successful Day 2 picks demonstrate just how important they can be. The Broncos picked wide receiver KJ Hamler, cornerback Michael Ojemudia, and center Lloyd Cushenberry III on Day 2 of the 2020 draft, and all three have started games for the club, albeit Hamler is still recovering from ACL surgery from last season. Dalton Risner, a guard, was a Day 2 selection in 2019 while Courtland Sutton, a wide receiver, was a Day 2 pick in 2018.
Paton has attempted to utilize free agency to position the Broncos such that they do not need to use draft selections to meet urgent needs. To help solve some of those pressing needs, the Broncos signed a group of experienced free agents to one-year agreements, including safety Kareem Jackson, tackles Billy Turner and Tom Compton, and linebacker Alex Singleton.
Outside linebacker Randy Gregory (five years), defensive lineman D.J. Jones (three years), cornerback K’Waun Williams (two years), and linebacker Josey Jewell (two years) have all signed multiyear contracts (two years).
“We still have nine selections, and we’re happy with them,” Paton said. “… I’ve stated we’ll keep adding, and we’ll keep adding with players that can assist us.”
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