Getty Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson poses with his jersey.
There will be big expectations for quarterback Russell Wilson during his first season with the Denver Broncos, and one NFL analyst said Wilson could be in store for a career year.
In a story published May 7 on CBS Sports, Jason La Canfora offered 10 bold predictions for the 2022 NFL season. His first prediction: Wilson will win league MVP.
“I am Team Russ. Always have been. Always will be,” La Canfora wrote. “Dudes like this don’t get dealt in their prime. And make no mistake, he is still very much in his prime. This is the best cast he has had around him in a long time. [Head coach Nathaniel Hackett] is going to be the opposite of Pete Carroll and will be skewing everything possible in favor of the passing game. It’s go time.”
Despite being one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks over the past decade, Wilson has not won MVP, yet. In fact, Wilson has never received a single vote for MVP in his 10-year career.
La Canfora actually asked Wilson about never receiving an MVP vote in 2020. Wilson said winning is more important to him than MVPs.
“For me, the No. 1 and important thing is the winning part,” he said during a virtual call with La Canfora. “The MVPs and stuff like that and, hopefully, the votes. … Maybe I’ll get one one day, but the reality is that I wake up to win it all and I wake up to be the best, too.”
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The Seahawks Struggled to Build Around Wilson in Recent Years
Wilson was put in a great situation to succeed early in his career with the Seattle Seahawks. Running back Marshawn Lynch led the league in rushing touchdowns in both 2013 and 2014 (Wilson’s second and third years in the league), and the Seahawks’ defense, led by the “Legion of Boom,” allowed the fewest points in the NFL for four consecutive seasons (2012-2015).
However, the Seahawks’ front office struggled to build a contender around Wilson in recent years. The Seahawks have not had a top 10 scoring defense since 2016.
On offense, Seattle’s offensive line struggled to protect Wilson. He has been sacked 40 or more times in eight individual seasons, which is the most among active quarterbacks.
Despite his situation, Wilson has put up big numbers. He threw a career-high 40 touchdowns in 2020, and he has eclipsed 30 passing touchdowns in every season since 2017, excluding his injury-shortened 2021. Wilson was on pace to record 30 passing touchdowns in 2021 but missed wound up missing three games.
Wilson Is Positioned for Success
In Denver, Wilson should continue to put up big numbers throwing to wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick.
In addition, the Broncos have a strong, all-around roster that is well-positioned for team success. Their defense allowed the third-fewest points in the NFL last season, and they have a strong running game led by Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon III.
Wilson appears to be in the best situation to win MVP since his first few years in Seattle. If the Broncos meet expectations and have a strong record this season, Wilson could be firmly in the mix.
“They have speed. They have big targets. They will have a scheme that has worked wonderfully well in Green Bay and with the L.A. Rams, among others,” La Canfora wrote. “I see Denver as being a very real factor in a loaded AFC, and Russ is going to get his cookies.”