Tim Patrick says new contract doesn’t provide security, mentions Von trade

When Tim Patrick signed a three-year, $30M contract extension last November, he didn’t get content.

The Broncos wide receiver met with the media for the first time since last season on Wednesday afternoon, and was asked if his mindset changes now that he has “security” from the team.

Patrick quickly shot that notion down.

“Didn’t Von Miller get traded last year? Ain’t no security in this league,” Patrick said. “You’ve got to bring it every year. My whole mentality is every year I’ve got to prove myself. Because that year you don’t prove yourself, they’re looking for a replacement.”

And Patrick has certainly proved himself the last two seasons, even with subpar quarterback play. Arguably Denver’s top receiver the last two years, Patrick caught five touchdowns in 2021 and six in 2020. He had more than 730 yards through the air in both campaigns.

It says a lot about how far Denver’s offense needs to come considering those numbers have been among the best, but with Russell Wilson in town anything is possible. Wilson took his receivers out to his “compound” in San Diego right after the Broncos traded for him, and Patrick said that’s helped a lot.

“It definitely helped because we got a little bit of a head start. We know his language, we know the way he talks. Sometimes he might slip up and say something from his old offense, but we understand that now because we’ve been together as soon as he signed,” Patrick said.

With Patrick, Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler all options for Wilson in 2022, the offense should be clicking. But that trip out West already made a huge difference  as the Broncos held voluntary mini-camp the last three days.

“I think if I never would’ve went to San Diego I think I would’ve been running out here like a chicken with its head cut off. There’s a lot in this offense,” Patrick said. “Like they say, there’s three different offenses merging in as one. So, San Diego was a huge blessing and I’m pretty sure I’m going to do it multiple times after this.”

Those three different offense would be Wilson’s last year in Seattle, new head coach Nathaniel Hackett’s in Green Bay and of course the Broncos’ old offense from a season ago.

It’s good to hear Patrick isn’t content now that he’s got financial security for life, and is still ready to work. Throw in the fact Wilson is now running the show, and there’s a lot for Broncos players and fans to be excited about.
***