Zach Wilson, the 24-year-old quarterback, has joined the Denver Broncos after being traded from the New York Jets. The move comes after Russell Wilson’s departure from the Broncos. Wilson is expected to compete with Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci for the starting quarterback position.
Peyton Manning, the legendary quarterback, has expressed his support for Wilson’s move to Denver, calling it a “change of scenery.” Manning believes that the move will be beneficial for Wilson, who faced challenges during his time with the Jets, including frequent changes in coordinators.
Wilson worked under two different offensive coordinators in his three years at New York Mike LaFleur in 2021 and 2022, and Nathaniel Hackett in 2023. Manning criticized the Jets for these frequent changes, saying: “The best way to really screw a young quarterback up is to change coordinators on him every single year, and it drives me crazy.”
Manning also noted the uniqueness of the Broncos’ system under head coach Sean Payton and suggested that a fresh start could be beneficial for Wilson: “So I think for Zach, I think a reboot actually is good. Let’s just sort of start over, right? And let’s just let Sean Payton and his staff coach you and kind of start from ground zero, which I think might be just what Zach needs.”
The Broncos are reportedly interested in drafting Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy to further bolster their quarterback options. However, Manning acknowledged the complexity of NFL moves, pointing out that McCarthy’s decision is ultimately out of the Broncos’ control: “I know Denver is very interested in him, and it sounded like a place he’d love to come to, but it’s a little bit out of his control.”
Despite the Broncos’ interest in McCarthy, Wilson is expected to compete for the starting quarterback position in Denver. Manning’s support for Wilson and his belief in the benefits of a fresh start could provide a boost to the young quarterback as he looks to establish himself in Denver.
