The Denver Broncos need to make a blockbuster move to secure a true No. 1 receiver to pair with Bo Nix for years to come. Courtland Sutton is nearing the end of his contract, and age is becoming a factor.
Sean Payton has found success with at least one primary target, and if the Broncos want to give him another Super Bowl ring before his career ends, they must find a playmaker he can rely on.
That’s why targeting a superstar wide receiver stuck in a struggling franchise makes sense — a player who may be ready to save his career. Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets fits that description perfectly.
The Jets brought in a future Hall of Fame quarterback and wide receiver to improve the team, but that only resulted in a five-win season, and neither Hall of Famer remains with the team.
Now, the Jets have invested $60 million in the unproven Justin Fields. If Fields succeeds, Wilson could become frustrated and look to leave New York. If the Jets want to avoid losing one of the league’s best young receivers for nothing, they will likely have to trade him before it’s too late.
If Wilson requests a trade or becomes available by the trade deadline this season, he could land in Denver’s lap. Wilson, the 10th overall pick in 2022, has exceeded expectations every year. He has recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards each season and ranks among the two 1,100-yard receivers.
Last season, Wilson caught 101 passes, tied for seventh in the league, with 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns. Heading into his fourth season, he is on pace to become one of the greatest receivers of all time — and he’s still improving. Trading for him now and signing him to a long-term deal could give Wilson and Nix one of the NFL’s most dangerous duos for the next decade.
Wilson is a versatile receiver who runs precise routes, makes spectacular catches, and can evade defenders with the ball in his hands. He has improved every year and is known as a team player with no off-field issues or locker room drama. Wilson consistently makes top-10 catches, and his next highlight reel could be in Broncos orange and white.
The trade would send Wilson and a sixth-round pick to Denver in exchange for Sutton, Malcolm Roach, Mike McGlinchey, and a first- and third-round pick. The Broncos would land the new face of their offense, while the Jets improve their roster depth and gain valuable draft capital to rebuild.
RJ Harvey
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton takes the field before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
© Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The Jets replace Morgan Moses, who left for New England in free agency, with a run-blocking specialist in McGlinchey. They also add more interior defensive line depth, which they badly need. Quinnen Williams is one of the best defensive tackles in the league, but outside of him, the Jets do not have a solid option at the position. Getting Roach gives them another talented tackle to rotate in.
On top of that, they acquire Courtland Sutton, who is in the last year of his deal. The Jets can either re-sign him or let him walk, freeing up a lot of money for the next season to continue their rebuild. They also gain two extra picks in the first three rounds of next year’s draft, which they can use to take advantage of what looks like one of the better draft classes.
Giving up Wilson is not ideal for the Jets, but if he wants out, this scenario is better than losing him for nothing. He would be the perfect main target for Sean Payton and Bo Nix and would make Denver one of the best offenses in the league. The Broncos would lose two top picks, but they are unlikely to draft a player better than Wilson. Given their current path, they benefit more from win-now players than rookies.
Sutton would obviously be replaced by Williams, and the Broncos would still have a big-bodied receiver in Devaughn Vele. McGlinchey has been solid for the Broncos, especially in the run game, but replacing him with Alex Palczewski, entering his third season, is not a huge problem. Palczewski has shown promise and potential in limited playing time and could be ready to take over the starting role.
The only issue for the Broncos in this trade is that they become very thin at defensive tackle. From last season, undrafted free agent Jordan Miller moves into the backup spot, leaving a vacancy at third string. The Broncos will likely have to sign or trade for another defensive tackle, but that problem is worth having for Wilson.
Raekwon Davis, Linval Joseph, Daniel Eukale, Jordan Phillips, and Khalil Davis are inexpensive options the Broncos could bring in for depth and veteran presence. They re-signed DJ Jones in the offseason, so the starting spot is locked up; they just need more interior depth.
Denver should closely follow the Jets in training camp and at the start of next season. If the Jets start to struggle, the Broncos need to be the first to try to acquire Wilson before other teams make offers. Wilson could change the team and the franchise, and the Broncos should do whatever it takes to get their guy.