Broncos legend Mark Schlereth applauds Sean Payton’s decision to rebuild Denver amid Russell Wilson’s exit

Mark Schlereth called Russell Wilson a “deficient” quarterback.

With Russell Wilson’s exit, the Denver Broncos have been receiving a boatload of backlash, especially towards head coach Sean Payton, who apparently forced the veteran quarterback to get benched last season. Amidst the criticism, NFL legend Mark Schlereth has come off as a savior of the franchise as he applauded Payton’s decision to rebuild the team.

The Broncos’ rough season seems to have gotten worse following the release of star safety Justin Simmons. But if you ask the former Broncos’ Pro Bowl offensive guard, he would surely convince you to be in favor of HC Payton and Denver.

In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Schlereth shared his opinion on his former team’s offseason moves, saying it was long overdue, on Saturday.

For eight years, this place has been garbage. The Denver Broncos were a crown jewel in the National Football League. And they’re not, they’re irrelevant—I for one am sitting here and saying, ‘Thank you, Sean Payton, for recognizing this team is not very good.’ This team does not have one guy that’s homegrown on this football team that’s ever come close to sniffing the playoffs.

said Schlereth

The former Broncos legend has never shied away from speaking up for his team. And though no matter how controversial Payton’s offseason decisions could be, he has the full support of Schlereth, who believes it’s time to “quit putting on the Band-Aids on gaping wounds and it’s time to perform some surgery.”

Mark Schlereth’s harsh criticism aimed at Russell Wilson

When many players and analysts have come forward in support of Wilson by calling out the Broncos for treating him unfairly, the former NFL guard appeared to have sided with his former team.

Not only did Schlereth not oppose Payton’s decision to release the nine-time Pro Bowler, but he also called him a “deficient” quarterback. He called Wilson’s 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in the 2023 season “garbage numbers.”

Russell Wilson (Via Imago)
Contrary to the 35-year-old’s goal to win at least two more Super Bowl trophies in his remaining Super Bowl career, Schlereth believes Wilson isn’t as good as he used to be anymore.