Melvin Gordon: Russell Wilson Can Have MVP-Caliber Season

Gordon is a big believer in HC Sean Payton.

While no longer employed by the team, and despite the turbulence of his final season that at times appeared personal, free-agent running back Melvin Gordon remains a believer in the Denver Broncos — particularly, quarterback Russell Wilson.

A big believer.

Appearing on the Jim Rome Show, Gordon opined that Wilson can have an MVP-caliber 2023 season under Sean Payton, an "MVP coach."

"Because I know the situation [last year] wasn't good," he said Wednesday. "But they got the pieces there now that's going to put him in the best situation. What he does this year, is on him. But I definitely believe they'll be a better football team than they were last year."

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Gordon is not-so-subtly blaming former Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett for Wilson's poor 2022 showing during which he posted career lows in completion percentage (60.5), passing TDs (16), and QB rating (84.4). Hackett was fired on Dec. 26, after only 15 games on the job.

The Broncos hired Payton a little more than a month later, surrounding a 2023 first-round pick and 2024 second-rounder while reportedly paying $18 million annually for the ex-Saints head man, regarded among the best offensive minds of all-time.

Payton put pen to paper with the understanding that returning Wilson to his prior, Pro Bowl form is Denver's chief priority — paramount to ending the club's seven-year playoff drought. He breathlessly accepted the challenge.

"It wasn’t the type of season he wanted to have," Payton said in his introductory press conference. "I feel like the last couple of weeks, we saw a little bit more of maybe what we were expecting or accustomed to. I say, ‘We,’ [meaning] you all when you signed them. I think the No. 1 job for us as coaches in evaluating our players [is deciding] what are the things that they do really well. Then, let’s try to put them in those positions. At least that’s the starting point, and I think that it is important to highlight their strengths and minimize maybe any weaknesses. Here’s what I know. I know that he’s a hard worker. I know he’s an extremely hard worker, and that’s important. You take that and you understand the skill set. He’s won a lot of games in Seattle. We played him quite a bit just because we’re both playoff teams in the NFC at that time. Then you go from there."

Though MVP talk could be a tad hyperbolic, Wilson is widely expected to rebound under Payton's tutelage. ESPN has projected the $245 million signal-caller will complete 63.1% of his passes for 3,875 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 16 starts this coming fall, adding 322 rushing yards and three scores via the ground.

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