Russell Wilson Release Recalls Bills' High-Profile QB Trade Busts

The disastrous end to the Denver Broncos' Russell Wilson era reminded The Athletic of two high-profile Buffalo Bills misfires under center.

Russell Wilson's rocky Rocky Mountains tenure is due to melt. 

The Denver Broncos reportedly plan to release the nine-time Pro Bowler two seasons after dealing away eight assets (three players and five draft picks) for his services during the 2022 offseason. Thus ends the Wilson era after only 30 games, which saw Denver deal with innumerable headaches, including a late benching of the Super Bowl XLVIII champion when the team still had an outside shot at postseason contention. 

Wilson's departure led to Mike Jones of The Athletic ranking the 10 worst quarterback trades in NFL history. Denver's doomed deal topped the list but the Buffalo Bills were, alas, well-represented on the list.

USA TODAY SPORTS

Coming in at No. 7 was the Bills' 2002 deal that acquired old enemy Drew Bledsoe from the New England Patriots. Bledsoe had come to Western New York at the price of a 2003 first-round pick (which the Patriots later flipped for championship starter Ty Warren) after Tom Brady commandeered his starting spot in New England.

"In a display of hubris, Bill Belichick traded Bledsoe within the division, and the Bills eventually found out why," Jones noted. "Bledsoe went 8-8, 6-10, and 9-7 as their starter while throwing 55 touchdowns and 43 interceptions, with no playoff appearances." 

While Bledsoe enjoyed a slight statistical rejuvenation in Buffalo (notably throwing for 4,359 yards during his debut campaign), that was far from enough to live up to a then-record $103 million contract. Buffalo dealt him to Dallas after the 2005 season to make way for JP Losman.

Just ahead of that deal, in a cruel sense of irony, was the deal that led the Bills to pine for Bledsoe, the 1998 flipping of first and fourth-round picks for Jacksonville Jaguars backup Rob Johnson. The first-round pick in that deal (ninth overall in 1998) became lauded Duval rusher Fred Taylor. In Buffalo lore, Johnson is perhaps best remembered as the quarterback who started the team's ill-fated playoff cameo after the 1999-2000 season, which saw him get the starting nod over fan favorite Doug Flutie.

"Johnson (was) a 1995 fourth-round pick who went 1-0 as a starter for the Jaguars while appearing in just eight games," Jones recalled. "Johnson was named the starting quarterback for Buffalo after signing a five-year, $25 million contract, but he went just 9-17 in four seasons."

Bledsoe Happy For Former Bills Backup, New Divisional Rival Van Pelt

Fortunately for the Bills, it doesn't feel like they're destined for any future entries to similar lists in the future: the team is obviously well-pleased with what Josh Allen has brought to the table as the franchise quarterback and seems destined to keep him around as long as possible.