The NFL trade deadline is still a bit away—on November 5—but the Denver Broncos might be a team to watch for potential trades.
On September 20, ESPN’s Dan Graziano highlighted Denver’s backup quarterback, Zach Wilson, a former No. 2 overall pick, as a top candidate for a trade, suggesting the Los Angeles Rams as a likely destination. Graziano noted that the Rams, with Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett backing up Matthew Stafford, could benefit from a high-ceiling developmental quarterback like Wilson. “You can question whether Wilson fits that bill, but if coach Sean McVay believes he can work with him, who knows?” he wrote.
Wilson has not yet been activated but has served as the emergency third quarterback during the Broncos’ first two losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers.
**Wilson’s Potential Value for the Broncos**
The Broncos acquired Wilson along with a seventh-round pick from the New York Jets in exchange for a sixth-round pick for 2024. If they can secure another sixth-round pick from the Rams or another quarterback-needy team, it would be seen as a success.
Wilson began training camp competing for the starting position but soon fell behind rookie Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham, with Nix ultimately becoming the first rookie quarterback to start the season for the Broncos since Hall of Famer John Elway in 1983.
If Wilson has trade value, much of the credit goes to his strong preseason performance. The Broncos finished the preseason undefeated, and Wilson played nearly the entire final game against the Arizona Cardinals, completing 16 of 25 passes for 251 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and adding 22 rushing yards with a touchdown.
**Rams Reviving Careers of Quarterbacks**
Should Wilson join the Rams, he could look to Baker Mayfield’s recent career revival as inspiration. After being traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and subsequently released, Mayfield signed with the Rams following a season-ending injury to Stafford. His impressive play led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign him to a one-year, $4 million deal to start in 2023 after Tom Brady’s retirement. Mayfield then had a standout season, making his first Pro Bowl and securing a three-year, $100 million contract with the Buccaneers in March 2024.
Given Stafford’s age (36) and injury history, if Wilson were to learn from both Broncos coach Sean Payton and McVay, he might finally reach the potential the Jets saw when they drafted him second overall out of BYU in 2021.
