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Russell Wilson

Broncos lands Wilson in blockbuster deal

Russell Wilson is headed to Denver, with the Seahawks getting a large package of picks and players in return.

The Broncos get Wilson, the 33-year-old franchise quarterback who once beat them in a Super Bowl. Per published reports, the Seahawks in return will receive two first-round picks, two second-round picks and three players. The package includes Drew Lock, who’ll likely serve as a backup or bridge quarterback. And also Noah Fant, giving the Seahawks a nice one-two punch of pass-catching tight ends (Seattle last year, recall, signed Gerald Everett).

The deal makes the AFC West one of the most quarterback-heavy divisions in the history of the league, with the four projected starters being Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr. There are plenty of other capable quarterbacks in that conference, including Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson.

Seattle, meanwhile, is now looking like a rebuilding team – the likely fourth-place finisher in the also-tough NFC West.

In Denver, Wilson will have plenty of capable wide receivers to work with, including Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler. With Wilson being one of the best in the league at throwing the deep ball, that offense should get a lot more explosive in a hurry.

I played around some with the numbers in general for moving quarterbacks. By my count, 36 times in the last 20 years, a quarterback has finished with top-20 numbers, then moved to a new team in the offseason. That includes a wide variety of guys, of course, at different spots in their careers (some being bridge-type options, while others were truly elite players). Of this group, eight (tagged with black dots) put up top-10 numbers in their first year with their new team.

The last two Super Bowls have been won by transplanted quarterbacks in their first seasons with new teams: Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford.

TOP-20 QUARTERBACKS WITH NEW TEAMS
YearPlayerOldPassTDPRunTDRPtsRk
2003Brian Griese, Mia.Den.813515062.244
2003Jake Plummer, Den.Ariz.2182152053207.620
2004Quincy Carter, NYJDall.498320038.946
2004Jeff Garcia, Cle.S.F.1731101692155.528
2004Kerry Collins, Oak.NYG349521360262.415
2005Vinny Testaverde, NYJDall.77714255.344
2005• Drew Bledsoe, Dall.Buff.363923502293.05
2006Gus Frerotte, St.L.Mia.270001.466
2006Kerry Collins, Ten.Oak.54910033.550
2006Aaron Brooks, Oak.N.O.11053124079.741
2006Steve McNair, Balt.Ten.3050161191234.419
2006• Drew Brees, N.O.S.D.441826320332.12
2007David Carr, Car.Hou.635359049.750
2008Brett Favre, NYJG.B.347222431274.111
2009Matt Cassel, K.C.N.E.2924161890231.121
2009Kyle Orton, Den.Chi.380221710281.216
2009• Jay Cutler, Chi.Den.3666271731318.610
2009• Brett Favre, Min.NYJ42023370343.67
2010Jason Campbell, Oak.Was.2387132221199.626
2010Donovan McNabb, Was.Phil.3377141510240.021
2011Carson Palmer, Oak.Cin.275313201197.724
2012Tim Tebow, NYJDen.390102012.250
2013Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ten.Buff.2454142253220.224
2013Carson Palmer, Ariz.Oak.42742430310.015
2018Tyrod Taylor, Cle.Buff.4732125150.242
2018Alex Smith, Was.K.C.2180101681171.833
2018Case Keenum, Den.Min.389018932287.819
2018• Kirk Cousins, Min.Was.4298301231360.18
2019Case Keenum, Was.Den.170711121136.631
2020Jameis Winston, N.O.T.B.750-603.269
2020Philip Rivers, Ind.LAC416924-80305.720
2020• Tom Brady, T.B.N.E.46334063410.37
2021Teddy Bridgewater, Den.Car.3052181062249.224
2021Jared Goff, Det.LAR324519870255.023
2021• Matthew Stafford, LARDet.488641430416.65
2022Russell Wilson, Den.Sea.??????

—Ian Allan

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