Simply put, the Broncos are getting a winner, an elite quarterback and a one-of-a-kind leader in Russell Wilson

John Elway. Peyton Manning. Russell Wilson.

For a third time in the storied franchise’s history, the Denver Broncos added a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback to their roster.

Russell Wilson is a Denver Bronco.

And it’ll be that way until nearly 2030, if not beyond.

On Tuesday, in one of the biggest trades in NFL history, George Paton acquired the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback from the Seattle Seahawks, along with a fourth-round pick, for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, Drew Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris.

Along with adding No. 3 to the organization, Russell Wilson brings three undeniable attributes to the franchise that has been starving for a quarterback since Peyton Manning retired following Super Bowl 50.

Russ’ big three are leadership, elite quarterback play and a team-friendly contract.

First and foremost, Wilson has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since he was a third-round pick in 2012.

In his 10-year career, he’s averaged an incredible 29 passing touchdowns, less than nine interceptions, 101.8 passer rating and nearly 4,000 yards per season on 65 percent completion. When Russ calls it a career, he’ll be in the Hall-of-Fame just a few years later.

Last season, in what many called a “down” year for Wilson, he threw 25 touchdowns to only six interceptions. In his worst statistical year as a pro, in 2014, No. 3 had 20 touchdowns to seven interceptions. The Broncos haven’t seen numbers like that at the QB position since Manning threw 39 touchdowns to 15 interceptions in 2014. On a bad day, or year, Wilson is not just a monumental upgrade for Denver, but a damn-good quarterback.

Mr. Unlimited, as he’s called himself, has been nearly unlimited in his availability too. He’s missed a total of three games in his NFL career. All three were last year. Before last season, Wilson hadn’t missed a single game in his career.

On top of all of that, Russ’ elite play wins games. In his 10 years in the NFL, Wilson has one losing season. One single losing season. That, again, was last year when he missed three games due to injury.

In every other season No. 3’s been healthy, he’s won. In fact, he’s won 10 or more games in eight of his 10 seasons in the NFL.

Even in the playoffs he has a winning record as he’s guided the Seahawks to a 9-7 record over eight different trips to the postseason. In a game many Broncos fans have forced themselves to forget, Wilson even won the Super Bowl following the 2013 season. But we won’t talk about Super Bowl 48.

Simply put, Russell Wilson is a winner.

He’s also an infections leader.

On the field, he’s a captain. He’s the leader that every team hopes to get at the quarterback position.

Off the field, he’s as good as it gets. Next to his No. 3 and captain patch on the front of his jersey, Wilson will have the Walter Payton Man of the Year patch.

He joins Elway as the only other Bronco to ever win the national Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which is recognized as the most prestigious award in the NFL and given to a player who has “exhibited excellence on the field, and whose passion to impact lives extends beyond the game.”

Simply put, Russ is the leader the Broncos need, on and off the field.

He’s also bringing an extremely team-friendly contract to the Mile High City with him.

Despite having an average salary of $35 million per year on the record-breaking four-year, $140 million extension he signed in 2019, the Broncos will not be on the books for nearly that much.

This year, his cap hit will be a mere $24 million. Next year, the final year of his deal, he will have a $27 million cap hit.

Sure, his $24 million cap hit this year will instantly be the biggest on the team, but compared to other elite quarterbacks, that’s nothing. In fact, he only has the 10th-biggest cap hit among quarterbacks this year and is half the price of Matt Ryan.

Wilson’s 2022 cap hit is significantly smaller than Kirk Cousins $45 million cap hit, Deshaun Watson’s $40.4 million cap hit and Ryan Tannehill’s $38.6 million cap hit. Russ even has a smaller cap hit than Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo.

Of course, it’s expected that Wilson will get a new contract relatively soon after arriving in Denver. But the Broncos will be able to manipulate his new contract to avoid large cap hits up front and make it another team-friendly deal.

Simply put, Russell Wilson is an incredible financial value.

All of took was one trade—a blockbuster, albeit—for the Broncos to land the elite quarterback they’ve desperately been seeking, the winning quarterback they’ve dreamed of and the leader they’ve been been searching for since 18 walked off into retirement.

That’s what the Broncos are getting in Russell Wilson.