Denver Broncos

As Russell Wilson prepares to play in Seattle as a visitor for the first time, the Denver Broncos quarterback has nothing but love for the city where he spent his first 10 NFL seasons.

"Seattle was one of a kind," Wilson told reporters Thursday. "Ten years, I couldn't imagine those years not being in my life and how special they were and how many games we won and how many amazing thrillers, just the Super Bowl we won and everything else. ... Seattle will always mean the world to me. It'll always forever be home for me. It'll always be a special place in my heart."

The Seahawks traded Wilson to Denver in March amid a simmering feud between the franchise quarterback and coach Pete Carroll. Most of the issues between Carroll and Wilson came down to philosophical differences, with the coach wanting a ground-and-pound approach while Wilson wanted to be allowed to cook.

Seattle is seemingly headed toward a retooling season, as the front office chose not to replace Wilson with another franchise quarterback. Carroll will open the 2022 season with Geno Smith as his starter and Drew Lock as the backup. Neither quarterback has shown the capability to be even an average NFL starter in their respective careers.

Wilson, meanwhile, leads a Broncos group that feels primed for a Super Bowl run—provided it's acquired the franchise quarterback of the past and not an inconsistent player amid his injuries last season.

Playing in the most difficult division in football, the Broncos will need to open up the 2022 season with a convincing win as they prepare for the AFC West gauntlet.

As far as Seahawks fans go, they should probably invest in the success of their past quarterback in what will likely be a disappointing campaign.

It turns out Russell Wilson's trade to the Denver Broncos wasn't just about the quarterback's long-simmering issues with coach Pete Carroll.

The Seattle Seahawks also apparently believed they were selling high on a player about to hit his decline.

"So those two things," a source in the Seahawks' front office told Brady Henderson of ESPN. "A declining player and then what the ask was going to be the next time, which would have been his third time. It's like, 'No, let's play really good defense, let's run the s--t out of the ball. That's how we won a world championship.' That's what we've kept going back to."

Wilson is coming off a frustrating 2021 campaign that was largely hampered by a broken finger suffered in Week 5. He seemingly came back before he was 100 percent, missing only three games, but struggled with his accuracy before picking things up toward the end of the season.

The Seahawks were just 6-8 in Wilson's 14 starts, marking the first time in his career he'd ever finished below .500.

Much like when he was entering the draft, the overarching concern with Wilson remains his size. While he's been able to overcome his 5'10" stature for a decade with a combination of generational football IQ and mobility, it's fair to wonder if he'll be as effective once his ability to make plays out of the pocket diminishes.

"The 4.5 speed where he's scrambling and now he's running down the field for big chunks of yards, that might not come anymore," a Seahawks coach said. "But the feel for pocket presence, he's always going to have that. ... I have no reservation in saying that Russ is going to continue to compete with his style, and then as that begins to slow down a little bit, I think he'll adjust. That's just who he is. He finds a way to win."

The Seahawks appear destined to work through a rebuilding season after trading Wilson and choosing not to replace him with a high-level option. Geno Smith will start Week 1, and he'll be backed up by Drew Lock. Neither quarterback has shown the capability of even being an average NFL starter, let alone someone of Wilson's caliber.

The Broncos will have a tough slog in football's strongest division but envision themselves as a Super Bowl contender with Wilson under center. If the Seahawks are correct about selling high on their franchise quarterback, Denver might be disappointed in 2022.

Prior to getting traded to the Denver Broncos during the offseason, quarterback Russell Wilson reportedly took issue with some decisions made by the Seattle Seahawks front office.

According to ESPN's Brady Henderson, Wilson was particularly dismayed by the fact that the Seahawks checked in on quarterbacks ahead of the 2017 and 2018 NFL drafts.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider attended now-Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes' pro day in 2017 and reportedly would have taken him had he fallen to the latter stages of the first round.

The next year, Schneider was present for now-Buffalo Bills superstar signal-caller Josh Allen's pro day in Wyoming.

Per Henderson, a front-office source said Wilson was "f--king pissed" that Schneider went out of his way to scout potential franchise quarterbacks while he was still in the fold and playing at a high level.

Schneider reportedly reasoned that doing due diligence on top quarterbacks in the draft was a wise move, noting that the Green Bay Packers did the same during his time with the organization and ended up having Aaron Rodgers fall to them in 2005 despite already having Hall of Famer Brett Favre on the roster.

Rodgers sat behind Favre for the first three years of his career before taking over and becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history in his own right.

Wilson is likely a first-ballot Hall of Famer thanks to his nine Pro Bowl selections, one Super Bowl ring and career record of 104-53-1 as a starter.

Despite being a third-round pick in 2012, Wilson won the starting job out of the gate and led the Seahawks to the greatest run of success in franchise history.

With Wilson at the helm, Seattle reached the playoffs eight times in 10 seasons and made it to the Super Bowl twice. If not for a miraculous goal-line interception by New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, Wilson and the Seahawks would have won back-to-back Super Bowls in 2013 and 2014.

While Wilson has somewhat shockingly never received a single vote for NFL MVP, he has put up some huge numbers during his career, completing 65.0 percent of his passes for 37,059 yards, 292 touchdowns and 87 interceptions while also rushing for 4,689 yards and 23 scores.

The Seahawks may have already gotten the very best out of Wilson, but at 33 years of age, he may have plenty left in the tank.

An injury caused Wilson to miss the first three games of his career last season, but he seems refreshed and rejuvenated after joining a Broncos team that has huge aspirations despite missing the playoffs in each of the past six seasons.

Despite playing in arguably the NFL's toughest division, the Broncos figure to be playoff-bound and perhaps even Super Bowl contenders with Wilson.

The same can't be said for the Seahawks, who are expected by many to be one of the NFL's worst teams, as they are entering the 2022 campaign with journeyman Geno Smith as their starting quarterback.

The Seattle Seahawks reportedly offered quarterback Russell Wilson to the Cleveland Browns as part of a proposed trade for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

ESPN's Brady Henderson reported Wednesday the Browns "weren't interested" in the idea but it led Wilson's agent, Mark Rodgers, to secure a no-trade clause in the QB's next contract that gave him greater control over his future.

Wilson was ultimately traded to the Denver Broncos in March, ending a 10-year tenure with the Seahawks.

The quarterback's growing frustration in Seattle became evident when he went on a media tour surrounding the Super Bowl in February 2021 where he aired his grievances.

Now it appears his stay with the Seahawks nearly ended three years before that if the Browns would have been willing to put the top draft pick on the table.

Of course, Cleveland opted to stay put and selected Baker Mayfield, who failed to establish himself as a franchise quarterback across four seasons before getting dealt to the Carolina Panthers in July.

His trade came after the Browns rebuilt their quarterback room with Deshaun Watson, Jacoby Brissett and Joshua Dobbs over the offseason.

It's always interesting to analyze the trickle-down effect of moves that weren't made. If Wilson lands with the Browns, do the Seahawks take Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen or Josh Rosen with the No. 1 pick? It's an obvious choice now, but back then it was a debate.

Meanwhile, Cleveland wouldn't have been in the market for a quarterback this offseason, which would have shaken up the QB trade market.

It worked out fine for Wilson, however, as he lands within a Broncos offense featuring no shortage of playmakers in the talent-laden AFC West.

Fittingly, his time with Denver begins with a road trip to face the Seahawks in Week 1.

"Obviously, Seattle's meant the world to me over the past 10 years," Wilson told reporters in May. "It's a special place. It's a special place to play, Lumen Field. I have high regard for all those guys over there and what they do."

Although his run with the Hawks didn't end on a high note, he enjoyed plenty of success during his decade with the franchise, including nine Pro Bowl selections and the Super Bowl XLVIII title.

He should receive a hero's welcome on Monday night.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson became the latest signal-caller to sign a massive contract extension this offseason Thursday, and he's looking to make his new team a "destination location," per James Palmer of NFL Network.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Wilson inked a five-year, $245 million contract extension ($165 million guaranteed) that in essence ties him to Denver for seven years and $296 million.

It's a new era in Denver, which is now under new ownership after the Walton-Penner group bought the team. Greg Penner has taken over as CEO, and this extension served as the first major move under the new leadership.

George Paton remains in place as the general manager after taking over last year. Nathaniel Hackett is now the team's head coach after taking over for Vic Fangio.

Adding a nine-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion in Wilson certainly signals change in Denver, which hasn't made the playoffs since the 2015 Super Bowl-winning season.

That year capped four fruitful seasons under Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, and ESPN analyst Marcus Spears said the extension solidifies the team being in "Peyton Manning mode" now.

The Broncos went 50-14 under Manning, including four AFC West titles and two AFC Championships. Denver went 8-8 the year before Manning's arrival, and he then led the team to its most fruitful run since the end of the John Elway era.

Denver certainly hopes the Wilson era can lead to similar success. Pieces are in place right now for the team to succeed, including wideouts Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, running back Javonte Williams and a reigning No. 3 scoring defense led by safety Justin Simmons.

The Broncos could very well be a destination for potential free agents if they can make strides this year under Wilson, who appears as though he's quickly changing the culture for the better in Denver.

The 2022 NFL season is quickly approaching, and star quarterback Russell Wilson still hasn't worked out a contract extension with the Denver Broncos since he headed over in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks in March.

Broncos owner Greg Penner didn't provide an encouraging update on the state of negotiations while speaking with the media Wednesday, either.

"It's critical to have a great QB," Penner said. "We have a sense how positive he is as a leader. At this point, nothing to say about his contract."

Wilson is under contract through the 2023 season, but last month, Broncos general manager George Paton told reporters the franchise is committed to retaining him beyond the expiration of his contract:

"We all want Russell here a long time. I appreciate the question. Out of respect for his team, our team, we're just going to keep it in-house. Any decisions we may or may not have. I have a really good relationship with Russ' agent, Mark Rogers, and at the right time, we'll get a deal done."

When the Broncos acquired Wilson, Paton said an extension with Wilson was not "imminent" but made it clear the organization's intent was to keep him for the long haul.

Wilson has also expressed his desire to finish the remainder of his career in Denver. During his introductory press conference, he said he wanted "to play 10 or 12 more years and hopefully win three, four more Super Bowls" with the Broncos.

The 33-year-old added last month that he wasn't worried about landing a new contract with the Broncos, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

"I'm excited to be here. I know that. I know I want to be here for a long, long time, hopefully, the rest of my career. And just, it's been a blessing just to be here with these guys. To be here with (general manager) George Paton, he's been amazing to me. Coach (Nathaniel) Hackett, first class, unbelievable mind, unbelievable way how he leads this football team and the rest of the coaching staff, the players, the organization. This is a tremendous honor. Every day I look at it as treating every day as a new day and treating every day as just going into it. That's my focus. My sole focus is winning a Super Bowl for the Denver Broncos."

It's unclear what kind of extension Wilson is looking for. However, the going rate for top-notch quarterbacks is at least $40 million per year.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is earning $50.3 million per season, according to Over the Cap. Arizona Cardinals signal-caller Kyler Murray recently put pen to paper on a five-year, $230.5 million deal, and Deshaun Watson agreed to a five-year, $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns after heading over in a trade from the Houston Texans.

So, Wilson will likely be looking for a lucrative extension, and if he leads the Broncos back to the postseason for the first time since the 2015 campaign this season, it will only help his cause.

The Denver Broncos may be in the market for a third wide receiver behind Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy after Tim Patrick suffered a torn ACL, and they are reportedly interested in someone who may benefit from a change of scenery.

Matt Lombardo of Heavy reported the AFC West team has "shown interest" in Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor.

It also may not cost Denver much to facilitate such a deal.

"It's probably not much more than a sixth or seventh-round pick, at this point," one NFL coach said of Reagor's trade value. "He just hasn't had the production to justify anything more than being a flier."

The Eagles seemed to make Reagor an important part of their future when they selected him with a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, but the production hasn't lived up to the elevated expectations that were in place.

He had 31 catches for 396 yards and one touchdown as a rookie and followed with 33 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns in his second season in 2021.

While Reagor was struggling at the NFL level, the Eagles drastically improved their wide receiver room. He is now behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and Zach Pascal on the depth chart and may not be much of a factor in the team's offense unless there are injuries elsewhere.

Going to Denver could help the TCU product revitalize his career.

There wouldn't be the pressure of living up to expectations for the team that selected him with a first-round pick. He also would likely be lined up against the opponent's third cornerback on most occasions with Sutton and Jeudy in the offense, which could free him up to use his speed and take advantage of spacing.

Throw in a future Hall of Famer in Russell Wilson throwing him the ball, and Reagor could be a productive piece as the Broncos look to compete in a daunting AFC West.

The 23-year-old also may be turning a corner considering Bo Wulf of The Athletic reported "Reagor continues to stack days in what has definitely been his most consistent camp as a pro. At the moment, he looks too good to consider releasing, though a trade remains very much on the table."

That trade may just be with the Broncos.

The Denver Broncos are no longer in the Bowlen family.

The NFL officially approved the sale of the franchise to the group spearheaded by Walmart's Rob Walton, his daughter, Carrie Walton Penner, and her husband, Greg Penner.

Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton and former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are also investors in the ownership group.

The Walton-Penner group agreed to a $4.65 billion price tag in June. It is the largest-ever sale price for a North American sports franchise, nearly doubling the previous record (New York Mets, $2.4 billion).

The Broncos had been in the Bowlen family since 1984, when the late Pat Bowlen purchased the franchise from Edgar Kaiser for $70 million. Pat Bowlen remained in control until 2014, when he stepped down amid health problems.

Upon his death in June 2019, the franchise went into a state of flux as the remaining members of the Bowlen family disagreed on a path forward. The Broncos were eventually put up for sale earlier this year, with several bidders making offers despite the record-setting asking price.

Broncos CEO Joe Ellis, who helped shepherd the franchise after Bowlen's death and was instrumental in the sale process, announced his resignation amid the vote's approval, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Only three NFL franchises have changed hands since 2012, as a combination of record-setting revenues and team scarcity sends values skyrocketing. The average NFL franchise is worth $4.1 billion, according to Sportico, with the Dallas Cowboys coming in at a high of $7.64 billion.

No recent franchise sales across major professional sports in the United States have come in below a team's valuation.

The Denver Broncos' change of ownership is reportedly set to be formally approved.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, NFL owners are expected to approve the $4.65 billion sale of the franchise to the Walton-Penner group, which is led by Walmart heir Rob Walton. The deal sets a new record for highest price paid for a sports franchise.

Per Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post, Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis is expected to present the Walton-Penner ownership group to the other 31 NFL teams during a special league meeting in Minneapolis. The group reportedly also includes Greg Penner and Carrie Walton-Penner, plus limited partners Mellody Hobson, Condoleezza Rice and Lewis Hamilton.

A "yes" vote is needed from at least 24 teams in order to finalize the record-setting sale.

The deal marks the first change in ownership for the Broncos in 38 years. Pat Bowlen owned the team from 1984 until his death in 2019. The franchise remained in his family as part of a trust in which his seven children and his brother John were the beneficiaries. The sale of the team to the Walton-Penner group was originally agreed upon in June.

While the team's ownership has been in flux, the Broncos have not let it distract them as they prepare for their first preseason game Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys.

"I was brought here to do a job and get this team ready to compete and get into the playoffs and I'm really focused on that," Denver head coach Nathaniel Hackett said after practice Monday. "That's been my priority, this team and getting them ready to rock and roll. When it comes to ownership, I'm so excited to meet them and get to know them."

Fantasy football players in point-per-reception leagues may want to pay attention to reported developments at the Denver Broncos training camp.

While running back Melvin Gordon figures to be behind Javonte Williams on the depth chart, Jeff Legwold of ESPN reported first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett plans on making "the team's running backs a bigger part of the passing game than in recent Broncos seasons, and that is where Gordon could find plenty of snaps."

"Bottom line is Melvin loves the ball," Broncos running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley said. "He knows what the situation is here, they all do. But it's like a menu and sometimes we're going to need a little more of something on the menu than something else. The next week that could be different."

It seems as if that "menu" will feature plenty of throws from new quarterback Russell Wilson, who figures to be at least somewhat familiar with Gordon considering they were college teammates at Wisconsin for one season.

Gordon is a two-time Pro Bowler who has been fairly consistent throughout his career.

He ran for 1,105 yards in 2017 as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers and ran for more than 900 yards in four of his first seven years in the NFL. That Denver plans on involving him in the aerial attack is notable because his 28 catches last season represented a career-low mark.

The 29-year-old had 50 or more catches in back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018, so he has proven capable of being a featured part of the passing game in the past.

The presence of Williams figures to complicate his overall ceiling, as Denver selected the North Carolina product with a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He ran for 903 yards and four touchdowns while adding 43 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver.

Wilson is talented enough to make sure they are both involved, though, which makes Gordon worthy of a mid-to-late-round flier for fantasy football players looking for a potential steal on draft day.