John Elway confesses his biggest regret as Broncos GM
Legendary Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway served as the franchise's general manager and executive VP of football operations from 2012 till 2020. During his reign, the Broncos made two Super Bowls, won one, and had a fairly successful run.
However, the story hasn't been the same since their Super Bowl win in 2016. The Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC West eight straight times since then, and the Broncos haven't made the playoffs since that season.
Elway recently made an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, and he revealed that not drafting Josh Allen in 2018 was his biggest mistake ever as a general manager. The Broncos had the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but they drafted Bradley Chubb instead.
Talking about the Buffalo Bills quarterback, Elway said:
“Last year I played golf with [Josh Allen] and I’m wondering how long is it gonna take him to realize I passed on him and took Bradley Chubb instead. It took him two and a half holes to bring it up and I loved him... He was my type. That was probably the biggest mistake of my GM days...,” John Elway said.
The Bills drafted Allen with the seventh overall pick and he has transformed into one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The Broncos have completely failed to replace Peyton Manning, and since the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback's retirement in 2016, the franchise has had 13 different quarterbacks start for them.
Moreover, Bradley Chubb is no longer in Denver, as he was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2022. Had John Elway drafted Josh Allen in 2018, the story could have been completely different for the Broncos, and they might have given the Chiefs a run for their money in the AFC West.
John Elway's Broncos gear up for life with new quarterbacks
The Russell Wilson experiment after the John Elway era failed brutally in Denver, and the franchise released him this offseason. They traded for Zach Wilson and also drafted Bo Nix in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. As of now, it is expected that Nix will start for the Broncos in Week 1, and Sean Payton has a big project on his hands.
Both Wilson and Nix are considered to be talented enough to play in the NFL; however, they need to be put in positions to succeed. Wilson's stint with the New York Jets proves that handling a young quarterback poorly could damage his confidence permanently, but now he has a chance for a fresh start in Denver.
It will be interesting to see if Wilson's performance leading in the training camp or preseason could improve his stock in the league. The Broncos are unlikely to make the playoffs this year, and the upcoming season will be all about how their quarterbacks play.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Pardon My Take and H/T Sportskeeda.