Russell Wilson trade makes the AFC West loaded at quarterback

Shortly after Aaron Rodgers decided he would not be joining the AFC West, the Denver Broncos came to an agreement on a trade they say had nothing to do with Rodgers’ decision in the first place (we don’t believe that for a second). Fortunately for Denver, however, another very good quarterback was made available this offseason and they landed a big fish to lead them in Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

With the news that Denver is now employing Russell Wilson as their starting quarterback, the conversation not only turned to the legitimacy of the Broncos’ playoff hopes in 2022 and beyond but the insanity of what is now the toughest division in football.

While it’s a dream come true for the NFL when it comes to the potential for televised matchups, Imagine the gauntlet for teams trying to contend in the AFC West these days knowing that Derek Carr is now the worst quarterback by far within the division.

The AFC West is now the toughest division in football without a doubt.

The Kansas City Chiefs have won the division six years in a row, and Patrick Mahomes’ presence under center will make them the favorites going forward. Justin Herbert has provided a great challenge to the Chiefs and they look to play the role of spoiler each season as the primary contender for the AFC West title. However, the Raiders have also been surprisingly spunky in recent years, especially early in the season, and have the talent to cause problems for anyone.

Denver has had a lot of talent on both sides of the ball in recent years but quarterback has been a carousel of sadness that looked like it might continue into 2022 after Rodgers decided to return to Green Bay this offseason. However, Denver’s decision to go all-in for Russell Wilson now gives them a leader at the most important position who becomes the division’s second-best quarterback.

Wilson might be getting older, but just ask the Rams what it was like to trade for Matthew Stafford in his thirties. Wilson will be 34 in November, but he’s made 9 Pro Bowls in his career and comes with a Super Bowl ring. He’ll likely be invigorated by his new surroundings, and it’s not like he’s trailed off in recent years. He had 40 touchdowns in 2020 and a 103.1 passer rating in 2021.

While the Chiefs will remain the favorites and the Chargers will be dangerous once again, the AFC West race just got a lot tighter top to bottom and is by far the best batch of quarterbacks in football.