The Broncos’ trade for Zach Wilson is not expected to affect the team’s plans in the first round. Sean Payton’s team still wants to add a passer, and it appears willing to go to the extreme to make it happen.
Wilson is not viewed as a starter in Denver, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. A report late last week suggested the Broncos would be willing to include All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain in a deal to move up for a quarterback Thursday night, and Russini notes teams in the top five believe the Broncos could indeed include their top player in a package that gives them a passer Payton covets (subscription required).
While confirming Payton wants a quarterback — which has long been the expectation for the Broncos in Round 1, potentially via moving up or down from No. 12 — Russini adds the Broncos do have a limit regarding how much they are willing to give up. Veterans on expiring contracts could also be in play in a trade-up scenario. The Broncos do not have a 2024 second-round pick, limiting their draft arsenal compared to other teams — like the Vikings, Raiders and Giants — linked to moving up for a passer.
Denver has left tackle Garett Bolles on an expiring deal, and Courtland Sutton (signed through 2025 on a $15MM-per-year pact) has made it known he wants a new contract. Defensive tackle D.J. Jones is also heading into the final season of a three-year, $30MM deal. Denver, which dealt Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland, does not plan to trade Sutton. Though, that cannot be ruled out given the stakes here.
Neither Bolles nor Sutton would carry comparable value to Surtain, a two-time Pro Bowler who is going into his age-24 season. The Broncos picked up the high-end cornerback’s fifth-year option ($19.8MM) on Tuesday and are aiming to start extension talks post-draft. That is, if they still employ the standout boundary cover man by that point.
J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix have repeatedly come up in connection with the Broncos, with the former almost definitely requiring a trade-up move to acquire. Nix has been viewed as a player who could be available later in the first round, and moving down would play into the Broncos’ hands after the team traded away three first-rounders — to acquire Payton and Russell Wilson — from 2022-23.
Zach Wilson not being viewed as a starter is somewhat interesting, though the thrice-benched passer has not exactly done anything to show he is worthy of such a path. But the Broncos do roster both Wilson and Jarrett Stidham, a player previous reports indicated could be the starter if it came to it come Week 1. It is clear, however, both Stidham (tied to a two-year, $10MM deal) and Wilson are bridge options for a Broncos team that has done extensive work on this year’s QB class.
This is set to be a pivotal span for a franchise that has been unable to find a true Peyton Manning successor since the all-time great’s post-Super Bowl 50 retirement.
Then why didn’t they go after Fields?
They still could, if the Steelers want to move up in the first round?
This is an excellent post.
For the millionth time, Fields doesn’t fit SP’s offense!
He doesn’t have to more than a bridge QB – maybe even backup.
Its a better idea than trading for a second tier guy.
Im not here to defend Fields, I just think you can do worse. He is certainly more interesting than any QB Denver has now.
I get what you are saying but SP already had to deal with R Wilson who didn’t fit his offense and he certainly didn’t want another starting QB who also doesn’t fit his offense
So they traded for a guy who has no idea how to run any offense.
Z Wilson? Yeah I’m not sure why they made that trade
SP probably believes he can bring him back and being closer to home/school may just help that. NY is tough and don’t think he could survive it nonetheless start in the NFL. One way overhyped prospect out of college.
They prob don’t view him as a starter either. Either that, or they didn’t think the price was right at the time.
I couldn’t agree more on missing the opportunity on Fields. If the Bears didn’t hold the first pick they’d have continued their investment in Fields. Fields is a starter in the NFL in my opinion and could still develop even further. They could have had Fields for a reasonable price now they are stuck with a QB who should be a back up and competing with teams who will undoubtedly offer a haul for a high prospect QB who may or may not succeed in the NFL. Why not surrender a reasonable pick give Fields a chance and if it didn’t work out go to the draft next season. Big opportunity missed
which QB is worth trading him for?
Also:
Which team would make that trade? Washington? NE?
I doubt adding Surtain is enough to get one of these QB needy teams to forego drafting a guy.
Im arguing both ways – but Im not sure this makes sense. A CB < QB that you might believe is a franchise guy.
If Im NE or Washington I have already decided by my offseason actions Im locked into QB. A CB isn’t enough to make me move from that.
If Im considering Nix or Penix type – not sure adding Surtain in trade is smart – I might not need to trade that high.
Surtain wouldn’t dissuade a team that needs a franchise QB from taking their guy, but Surtain could be enough to make Arizona trade down. They certainly need core defensive players.
Part of my argument is that trading Surtain for a second tier QB doesn’t make sense either.
So Surtain plus picks for….JJ McCarthy?
Nah. It doesn’t make sense.
Oooof, I think AZ makes the most sense. They could do what they did last year. Move back, then use the picks to move back up to get their guy.
I could see this happening for the Broncos moving to #4 to take whichever QB is left. The Cardinals move back, then move back up to select a WR they like in Harrison, Nabers, or Odunze and they also get an all pro CB in the process.
Yeah, I have a hard time believing Denver will actually trade Surtain in a move-up, but if they did, Arizona makes sense, and I could definitely see Arizona going down and back up like last year.
Chargers and Giants could make sense, too. You also have to consider, though, that you’re only getting two years of Surtain and would need to sign him to a mega deal if you want him longer than that.
Sean Payton was the worst move the Broncos could have possibly made.
A+ Goonies reference.
And he was their 3rd option. They wanted J Harbaugh and D Ryans before Sean.
Finding a trade partner will be complex, reports are Arizona has trade offers and it’s most likely giants cuz they want a qb and Arizona doesn’t want to move too far down cuz they want either nabers or Harrison, chargers are division rivals so I don’t know how either side would b willing to help each other out, Atlanta makes sense at 8 but I don’t see any of the top 4 falling to eight unless it’s McCarthy, and Atlanta would be getting a starter at 12 and surtain
“helping out division rivals” is so overblown. If you can help your team via a trade that you believe is fair (it that you believe you’re winning the trade), you do it.
Fair enough, but the specific positions here is an interesting dynamic to have to consider as purely a side note. The first time that McCarthy, Nix, or Penix throws a pick to Surtain, a certain question will come up in force…
Chargers taking Surtain and letting Broncos draft Nix or McCarthy isn’t really helping a division rival. It’s letting them make stupid decisions everyone knows will be stupid and letting them
Suffer the consequences.
None of these QBs is worth Surtain. Broncos should punt on this year, and get their franchise QB next year.
Agree. Not buying Surtain as a trade candidate to help get a QB.
Peyton knows Broncos ain’t sniffing a playoff run let alone a SB appearance in the near future, so give Wilson his one time “change of scenery angle” shot.
As far as drafting a QB, Nix and Penix both have favorable grades suggesting they could be NFL starters and are slated going early 2nd round. If any thing, trade down from 12 in exchange for two maybe 3 later rounders; including an early 2nd. But again, give Wilson his one change of scenery shot in 2024. If he still stinks, look at next year’s draft for a QB.
Unfortunately, next years QB class is pretty weak
JJ isn’t worth trading Surtain for. I also highly doubt the Broncos would trade Surtain to a division rival like the Chargers, or at least I hope not!
One more day of theories but here’s one. What if Broncos trade spots with titans for a late third and Pat Surtain and use the 7th overall pick to get JJ McCarthy or Bo Nix?
Brownies aren’t trading
#12, Surtain, and. 3rd to move up to #7.
Cut off before I was finished
Surtain is under control for minimum 3 more years
2024
2025 5th year option
Franchise tag candidate
A team like Atlanta might entertain trading the #8 overall pick and some extra draft ammo to get Surtain. Bears might do so at #9.
But Broncos aren’t using Surtain to trade up and swap places.
Tee Higgins? Probably. Bengals could trade up to 4, Cardinals get Higgins and 18. Done. Bengals can draft their Higgins replacement for 5 years in Nabers or Harrison Jr. Cardinals get their #1 WR in Higgins and still have a 1st round picks at 18 and 27.
In my head Tee can go the a 10 to 20 pick team for stock. Replace him with Odunze at 7. Titans have 7 and aren’t seeking skill position might be willing to trade back ESPECIALLY if chargers take Alt
So Higgins for example goes to titans for their 7th and maybe a day 3 pick. Bengals get Odunze
Include a generational corner for the third or fourth rated quarterback who might possibly have an above average career. Sounds genius.
Sean knows he has no real excuses now that Wilson is gone. He won’t get 5 years to find a new QB.
“He’s really not gonna start for us @QB, he’s more of an emergency QB if you don’t mind losing.”
If Sean Payton wants his guy that badly, it shouldn’t be that hard to lure Brees back. Sure, he may only have one working ligament in his throwing arm currently, but at least SP won’t have any room to complain about the starting QB roster on paper.
Just call up the Bears… offer 12, 2 more FRPs, 2 SRPs, Surtain, and Wilson. Then the Bears draft BPA at 9 and 12. Broncos get their QB in Williams. Bears restructure a bunch of contracts and then pull Tom Brady out of retirement with a 1 yr 35M offer.
That’s the master plan. Dump Wilson, Get Wilson, Trade Wilson, Get Williams. It’s flawless.
Zack could just wear Russell’s “Wilson” Broncos jersey and save the Team Shop a ton of money. Then again, fans don’t want either jersey.
But would the Chargers (in the same division), Cardinals, or Pats trade down to #12 for Surtain ?
*confused Jackie chan* meme
Then why do you trade for him!
yeah….some team is giving up a top 5 pick for Denver’s spare parts. And no one likes SP, so who really wants to help him?
Well that is certainly a news flash
Just spitballing in here, but I heard yesterday Philadelphia was looking to trade up in the draft to get acornerback. If the Broncos trade PS2 to Philadelphia for 22 now they have the ammunition to move up.
George Paton’s past deals have left the Broncos with very few picks and no money – thus it makes sense to get rid of assets you can’t re-sign..