After a disastrous start to the 2023 NFL regular season, the Denver Broncos have gotten things on track. They are now 7-7 after beginning the season 1-5, inserting themselves right into the AFC playoff picture.
The Broncos still have some work to do, but the schedule is in their favor. Their last three games are at home against the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers and on the road in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Those are certainly winnable games should Denver play up to the level that they have since their early season skid.
Outside of the brutal start, things have gone well in the first season under head coach Sean Payton. However, there are still some question marks heading into the future, with the status of quarterback Russell Wilson being one of them.
NFL News & Rumors: Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield, Sean Payton, Denver Broncos Updates
Wilson has looked infinitely better in Payton’s offense compared to Nathaniel Hackett’s last season. He has improved across the board, completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 2,823 yards and 24 touchdowns with only eight interceptions.
His yardage is actually down from last season and he is still getting sacked far too frequently, but there have been positives to his performance. However, have those positives been enough to secure him the job in the future?
In the opinion of Lou Scataglia of Predominantly Orange, the answer would be no. Scataglia believes that the Broncos would have a higher ceiling bringing in someone else to lead the offense. His suggestion is Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, Baker Mayfield.
“Baker Mayfield is also going to be significantly cheaper than Wilson and is just 28 years old, while Wilson recently turned 35. So, not only was Sean Payton a huge fan of Mayfield at one point, he likely still is and is probably already looking to see who he could replace Russell Wilson with. Mayfield isn’t a slouch, either. He’s won a playoff game and nearly led his Cleveland Browns team to a divisional round upset over the Kansas City Chiefs a few years ago,” Scataglia wrote in his article published December 18, adding:
“Baker Mayfield also profiles closer to Drew Brees than Russell Wilson does, and I think Payton would also see that as a huge plus. Mayfield is currently playing on a one-year, $4 million deal. Even when he likely demands a richer contract from someone, it probably won’t be over $20 million per season.” (H/T Heavy)
NFL News & Rumors: Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield, Sean Payton, Denver Broncos Updates
Mayfield’s days as a starter in the NFL looked like they could be nearing an end with how his 2023 season went. He was a disaster for the Carolina Panthers, getting benched on multiple occasions and eventually released.
He signed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he had some success despite difficult circumstances. He parlayed that into competing for the starting job with the Buccaneers this offseason and has made the most of that chance.
If the Broncos want a semi-reset at the quarterback position, Mayfield is an intriguing option. As Scataglia pointed out, he is much younger than Wilson, giving the team a potential long-term answer at the position.
Getting out of the exorbitant contract Wilson signed before Payton took over as head coach could be one of the team’s goals this offseason. If it is, the Broncos will need a starting quarterback and Mayfield could fit the bill.
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