"It gave him a year (away) from the stress," Broncos tight end Adam Trautman said about Wilson’s 2024 season. "He came from the toughest media market to play in. Having a year of stress-free work, learning and being able to say, 'How do I develop as a quarterback?' I think it was awesome for him."

That was largely true for Zach Wilson, the 2021 No. 2 pick by the New York Jets, who enjoyed a reset year in 2024 as Denver’s third-string quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and backup Jarrett Stidham. It was an anonymous season after three years of spinning inside the league’s biggest media market.

A few days before the 2024 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos added to their quarterback room by trading for former number two overall pick Zach Wilson. At the time, the Broncos just had Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci on the roster,