Russell Wilson’s first season with the Denver Broncos was a disaster, but the future Hall of Fame quarterback now has a major asset in the form of new head coach Sean Payton. Payton, who led the New Orleans Saints for many years with Drew Brees under center, is expected to bring out the best in Wilson, assuming the veteran still has some elite play left in him.

Herm Edwards, former head coach of the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, believes Payton could be a game-changer for Wilson, but he emphasized that Wilson must be open to coaching for that to happen.

During his 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was consistently one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, especially due to his mobility, leading his team to the playoffs in all but two of those years and winning a Super Bowl in 2013.

However, his performance this season has been a far cry from his prime, with career lows in completion percentage (60.5), touchdown passes (16), and passer rating (84.4).

If Wilson can recapture even a portion of his former play, the Broncos could break their playoff drought, which stretches back to 2016. The team’s offense was dismal this year, finishing last in points scored, while fans endured frustrating mistakes and close losses.

The hope is that Payton can revitalize the offense and make it more dynamic. However, if Wilson’s decline continues, such an improvement may not be realistic.