Is Russell Wilson nonetheless an elite quarterback?

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is a Tremendous Bowl champion and nine-time Professional Bowler, however is he nonetheless elite? On Sunday, the NFL Community started releasing its checklist of high 100 gamers, a rating voted on by the gamers. Wilson ranked No. 61, behind the Cardinals QB Kyler Murray (No. 57). Two years in the past, Wilson ranked second total. He ranked twelfth final 12 months.

In 2021, Wilson suffered an injury to a finger on his throwing hand, requiring surgical procedure. This sidelined him for 3 video games, inflicting a dip in his numbers and contributing to a drop in Wilson’s rating.

Earlier this summer season, The Athletic’s Mike Sando launched his annual quarterback tiers. The tiers are numbered 1 by 5, with Tier 1 being one of the best and Tier 5 the worst. The tiers are based mostly on evaluations by 50 league executives and coaches. Wilson made Tier 1 final season, however he was downgraded to Tier 2 forward of forward of the upcoming marketing campaign.  

An nameless defensive coordinator advised The Athletic: 

“Russell has been a high-level play-action, shot, pocket-extend-plays quarterback. His dropback recreation is effectively above common, however I don’t suppose it’s elite. That is going to be a legacy defining change for him. Is he going to be that man or is he going to be what lots of people thought however weren’t certain as a result of it was straightforward responsible Pete and the system and all that?” 

The relegation isn’t a whole diss towards Wilson. He was ranked the eighth-best quarterback, behind seventh-ranked Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams. Two years in the past, Wilson was a unanimous Tier 1 alternative. Now he stands behind up-and-coming younger QBs Josh Allen (No. 4, Payments), Justin Herbert (No. 5, Chargers) and Joe Burrow (No. 6, Bengals). 

This begs the query: If Wilson can flip the Broncos again right into a constant title contender, as he did with the Seahawks, will his rating rise?

Though Wilson did see a slight setback in his standing, his play on the sphere has not regressed. He completed 2021 with a passer score of 103, which landed him in the top five. His damage was imagined to sideline him six to eight weeks, however he made it again earlier. 

Wilson’s statistical milestones stand out. He has 105 wins since 2012, essentially the most amongst lively quarterbacks. If he retired as we speak, he would have the fourth-best passer score in NFL historical past. He’s the one quarterback in NFL historical past to register greater than 35,000 passing yards and at the very least 4,500 speeding yards. 

Generally a change of surroundings is critical. (See: Stafford and the Rams.) It’s no secret Seattle coach Pete Carroll performed conservatively.   Nathaniel Hackett, Wilson’s new head coach and Aaron Rodgers’ offensive coordinator in Inexperienced Bay, ought to run a extra wide-open passing assault suited to Wilson’s abilities. Beneath Hackett, Rodgers was First-Crew All-Professional the previous two seasons.  

The Broncos should mesh underneath a brand new regime. But when Wilson can make them the highest of the AFC West, he may re-establish himself as an elite QB within the eyes of the media, coaches, executives and his friends.