When the Denver Broncos pulled the trigger on the blockbuster trade for Russell Wilson back in 2022, they weren’t just swinging for the fences-they were trying to redefine the franchise. But four years later, the results are in, and it’s clear: the Seattle Seahawks came out of that deal with a Super Bowl ring, a retooled core, and a future that looks every bit as promising as their present.
Let’s rewind for a second. Denver gave up three players and five draft picks to Seattle in exchange for Wilson and a single pick.
That’s a massive haul in any era, and Seattle made every bit of it count. Fast forward to Super Bowl LX, and the Seahawks rode the contributions of several players acquired via that trade to a 29-13 win over the New England Patriots.
The most visible impact came up front. Charles Cross, drafted with Denver’s 2022 first-rounder, anchored the offensive line and gave quarterback Sam Darnold the kind of clean pocket quarterbacks dream about in February.
Darnold responded with a composed performance-202 yards, a touchdown, no turnovers, and just one sack. That kind of efficiency doesn’t happen without solid protection, and Cross delivered on the game’s biggest stage.
On the defensive side, Seattle cashed in even further. Devon Witherspoon, selected with Denver’s 2023 first-round pick, showed exactly why he was worth the investment.
His stat line-one sack, three quarterback hits, and a pressure that led to a pick-six-tells the story of a cornerback who’s just as dangerous blitzing off the edge as he is in coverage. Derick Hall, taken in the second round of that same draft, added two sacks and a forced fumble, wreaking havoc off the edge and helping to seal the win.
Even Boye Mafe, a second-round pick in 2022, chipped in with a tackle for loss. While not as flashy as his teammates, his presence rounded out a defensive unit that looked fast, physical, and built to last.
Meanwhile, Denver’s return on the trade was far less fruitful. Wilson, expected to be the missing piece in a championship puzzle, lasted just two seasons before being released. The only other player Denver walked away with was Eyioma Uwazurike, who missed an entire season due to a gambling suspension before finding a role as a rotational pass rusher in 2025, recording 3.5 sacks.
But here’s the thing about the NFL-it doesn’t wait for anyone, and it doesn’t care about past mistakes. To their credit, the Broncos didn’t let the Wilson deal define their future.
After moving on from the veteran quarterback, Sean Payton and company went back to the draft board and selected Bo Nix in the first round of 2024. That pick has already started to pay off.
With Nix under center, the Broncos have made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. His 2025 campaign ended prematurely due to a season-ending ankle injury, but before that, he was showing the kind of poise and leadership that gives a franchise real hope. Assuming he returns to form in 2026, Denver may have finally found the quarterback they were searching for all along-just not the way they originally planned.
In the end, the Wilson trade will go down as one of the most lopsided in recent memory. Seattle turned a franchise quarterback’s departure into a foundation for a Super Bowl winner.
Denver, after a painful detour, may have found their footing again with a young quarterback and a fresh direction. The road back to contention wasn’t pretty, but it’s a road they’re walking now-with Bo Nix leading the way.