Wilson’s interest in the Raiders should strike a chord with Paton

Patience is a virtue. And good things sometimes come to those who wait. But as a wise man once said: “Two things can be true at once.”

Because assertiveness is also a virtue, as is foresight, and Broncos Country should hope that George Paton has both.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has become the latest signal caller to make waves this offseason. Wilson’s veiled comments to Dan Patrick caught most of the sports world by surprise, and then The Athletic’s fascinating exposé last week unearthed what appears to be a lengthy and contentious battle between the franchise and its cornerstone.

"I think that dialogue should happen more often in my opinion." Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) on if he wants to be involved in personnel decisions with the #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/pBkYNrqN18

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) February 9, 2021

Unlike his fellow disgruntled quarterback, Deshaun Watson, Wilson has reiterated that he wants to play in Seattle this season. However, the fact that he also gave the Seahawks a list of four teams he would waive his no-trade clause for calls the sincerity of his claim into question.

One of the four teams Wilson reportedly listed faces the Broncos twice every single year. The Las Vegas Raiders are on Russell Wilson’s radar, which is something Paton should not take lightly.

Being an AFC West team outside of the state of Missouri is tough enough as it is. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have established a pretty clear stranglehold on their division, conference and, to some degree, the NFL in general. Their loss in Super Bowl LV last month is more of a testament to the Peyton Manning-esque resurgence taking place in Tampa Bay with Tom Brady than anything.

The Chargers’ investment in Oregon standout Justin Herbert appears to be maturing at an alarming rate, as the 22-year-old quarterback just completed a season in which he set rookie records for: passing yards (4,336), touchdown passes (31) and completions (396).

Those teams appear to be set at the quarterback position and ready to compete for foreseeable future. With Wilson at the helm, the Raiders absolutely would be too.

A sizable deal would have to be made for the future Hall of Famer, of course, but a scenario where the Broncos would have to face Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Justin Herbert each twice per year does exist.

That alone should be enough to spur Paton into action and make the one move that could instantly help balance the scales: Successfully orchestrate a trade for Deshaun Watson.

Imagine a world where this is the AFC West pic.twitter.com/zydnx8dQp2

— PFF (@PFF) February 25, 2021

The idea of the Broncos competing against that level of competition in the AFC West with Drew Lock at the helm is terrifying. And that is in no way a slight on Lock. When healthy, Lock has shown, at times, during his 18 starts the athleticism and potential that made him an attractive target for then-GM John Elway during the 2019 draft.

That being said, it is not a stretch to say that Lock is not currently playing on the same level as his current AFC West counterparts and certainly not on par with Wilson. The Broncos found themselves at the bottom of the divisional totem pole in 2020, and the addition of another top-tier quarterback in the division would significantly increase the odds of a repeat performance in 2021.

To stay competitive in that situation, the Broncos wouldn’t just need a leap in play from Lock, they would need an orbital launch.

P. Mahomes
Yards – 4,740
TDs – 38
INTs – 6
Comp % – 66.3

J. Herbert
Yards – 4,336
TDs – 31
INTs – 10
Comp % – 66.6

R. Wilson
Yards – 4,212
TDs – 40
INTs – 13
Comp % – 68.8

D. Lock
Yards – 2,933
TDs – 16
INTs – 15
Comp % – 57.3

Watson, on the other hand, is producing at a level that is greater than or equal to all of the quarterbacks listed above. His 4,823 passing yards in 2020 led all quarterbacks and he threw for 33 touchdowns with just seven interceptions (nearly a 5:1 TD-to-INT ratio), while completing 70.2 percent of his passes.

Born just three days before Mahomes, Watson would give the Broncos an opportunity to genuinely compete with Kansas City and Los Angeles for the entirety of his blossoming career and level the playing field against a potential Wilson-led Raiders team.

Paton should already be heavily invested in the idea of bringing Watson to Denver, as it would be a once-in-a-lifetime move that would instantly breathe life back into a franchise that has been reeling since the departure of Peyton Manning and immortalize him in the eyes and hearts of Broncos Country.

He is a revered member of the NFL community and his track record with the Minnesota Vikings speaks for itself.

And while his six-year contract certainly gives him time to patiently fix all of the problems he has recently inherited, I would like counter that notion with this: Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat.

Simply put: Fortune favors the bold.