Shannon Sharpe isn’t holding back! He slammed the Denver Broncos for messing up big-time with Russell Wilson. In a live YouTube stream, Sharpe didn’t mince words. He voiced how the Broncos made a terrible mistake with Wilson as they traded the quarterback and are now paying for it.

In the Nightcap stream, Sharpe did not hold back in criticizing the Broncos’ decision to part ways with Wilson. “I just don’t believe that George Paton gave Wilson a fair chance,” Sharpe said referring to the General Manager of the Denver side. “At the end of the day, Broncos jumped the gun. Two more years left in the contract and they didn’t have to do anything. That’s their own fault.”

The former NFL star doubled down, making it clear he feels the Broncos’ brass has no one to blame but themselves for the Wilson disaster. “When you make those kind of decisions, you have to live with the ramifications of it,” Sharpe stated bluntly. His comments reference the Broncos eating a $53 million dead cap hit this season from Wilson’s release after trading multiple draft picks to acquire him just a year prior.

Sharpe’s harsh assessment carries extra weight considering his history with the organization as a Denver legend. His words reflect a growing frustration among the fan base over the Broncos’ lack of stability at the all-important quarterback position. Sharpe himself admitted “I get it, lot of times when new coaches and new staff come in, they want their own people,” understanding the motivations behind Sean Payton’s desire to move on from Wilson. However, he feels the organization misjudged the situation.

Which brings us to the million-dollar question in Denver – what is the Broncos’ actual plan for the QB position now? After willingly creating this muddled situation, the franchise’s path forward is clouded in serious uncertainty.

Cloudy QB picture for Denver after the Russell Wilson fiasco

In the aftermath of the Wilson divorce, the Broncos currently have Jarrett Stidham and journeyman Ben DiNucci as their only quarterbacks under contract. Stidham proficiently did not do exceptionally well in his starts last season, posting a 1-2 record with 8 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Not exactly inspiring numbers for a potential starter.

The free-agent quarterback market has already been picked over, with names like Jimmy Garoppolo, Baker Mayfield, and Jacoby Brissett finding new homes. Remaining veterans like Ryan Tannehill, Carson Wentz, and Blaine Gabbert hardly instill confidence as long-term solutions under center.

That likely leaves the 2024 NFL Draft as Denver’s best path to find their future QB1. However, they currently lack the draft capital to realistically trade up from the #12 overall pick for one of the top prospect arms like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. General manager George Paton admitted “To move up…I don’t know if we have the draft capital to do that. We’re open for anything, but that would be hard.”

Read More: While “Sean Payton Likes J.J. McCarthy,” Michael Irvin Not Sure About Russell Wilson’s Replacement

The Broncos could also explore the trade market, with unproven young talents like Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, or Sam Howell potentially available. But dealing away more draft picks for another reclamation project seems inadvisable after the Wilson misadventure.

No matter which direction Paton and Sean Payton choose, the path will be thorny thanks to their self-inflicted salary cap purgatory. A situation that, as Shannon Sharpe loudly proclaimed, is entirely “their own fault.”

Read More: Broncos Legend Slams Russell Wilson Fans for “Sean Payton Doesn’t Love His Players” Narrative