Winners and Losers of the Russell Wilson Trade to the Broncos
The first domino to fall in the 2022 NFL offseason was a big one, as the Seattle Seahawks recently agreed to a massive trade that will send former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. While this blockbuster deal is still hot off the press, now’s a great time to dissect and determine who got the better end of the deal.
NitroBetting is ready to equip its bettors with the latest news, future NFL odds, and special features for the duration of the 2022 NFL offseason. This time, let’s find out the winners and losers from the trade that sent Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos and what this means for the parties involved come the 2022 NFL regular season.
A Look into Russell Wilson’s Trade to the Denver Broncos
READ MORE: Green Bay Packers’ NFL Odds Update
Denver Broncos – Winner
It’s been six seasons since the Broncos had an elite quarterback at the helm of the offense, with Peyton Manning being the last credible signal-caller to speak of. Now, Denver is expected to break out of its mediocrity slump with the signing of nine-time Pro Bowl selection Russell Wilson, who also happened to be the opposing QB to nearly send Manning into retirement due to the Seahawks’ rout of the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Denver paid a hefty price to get Wilson to move to Mile High, as the team sent backup quarterback Drew Lock, promising young talents in tight end Noah Fant and Shelby Harris, and five additional draft picks in order to get the deal done. Nevertheless, the Broncos’ odds to win Super Bowl 57 have immediately shot up to (+1,200), which is tied with the Cowboys for the fifth-best odds in the league to date.
With recent rumors from former Super Bowl MVP Von Miller hinting at a return to Denver after his brief title-winning sojourn in Los Angeles, Broncos fans are definitely experiencing some offseason highs right now.
Russell Wilson – Winner
There were plenty of trade rumors surrounding Wilson over the past few seasons already, so this trade doesn’t really come as that big of a surprise. Still, the new scenery should revitalize the former Super Bowl champ’s career, especially considering his lost 2021 season mired with bad play coming off a finger injury that many believed was not fully healed upon his return to the field.
Now with a full offseason to rehabilitate his injured finger, coupled with Denver’s stout offensive line and similarly imposing defense, Wilson is expected to be back in elite playoff-contention form. The upgrade at O-line is the key to Russ’ impending success in Denver as he’s been the most sacked quarterback in the NFL over the past half-decade or so.
Seattle Seahawks – Loser
The rebuild in Emerald City is officially in full effect, as Seattle parted ways with arguably the best player in the franchise’s history. Not only that, but the team also recently released eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner to clear up even more cap room for the grueling rebuild ahead. In turn, the only remnant of the Seahawks’ Legion of Boom era in the 2010s is head coach Pete Carroll, whose age is also a concern for a possible retirement over the next couple of seasons.
In turn, the Seahawks’ odds to win the championship this coming season have dipped all the way down to (+5,000); tied for the third-worst odds in the NFL right now. Not only will Seattle have to endure the pains of a rebuilding process in 2022, but the team is still engaged in arguably the most competitive division in the league to hinder most of its progress along the way (more division talk below as well).
Rest of AFC – Loser
Just when the AFC West had to deal with another year playing against the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs, the Broncos have suddenly thrown their name back into the hat of postseason contenders in this group.
The AFC West is now home to three of the league’s 10 best quarterbacks, with Kansas City’s Mahomes, Denver’s Wilson, and Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert all about to engage in some tense battles for division supremacy and beyond. Derek Carr and the Raiders are also in the mix and should not be underestimated, especially considering Vegas’ surprising push towards the playoffs last season. That being said, the AFC West is bound to be the most competitive division in the NFL this year, which is just great news for all of us football fans in general.
Check out our latest sports betting guides for the 2022 NFL Season. Stay tuned for more football previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest football betting odds at our online Bitcoin sportsbook.
*All stated odds are subject to change without prior notice.
