The 2022 Denver Broncos may have been Russell Wilson's team, but it's pretty damn clear the 2023 version belongs to Sean Payton.

And why wouldn't it? Just about anything Wilson tried to do in 2022 failed, so it was easy to see how the franchise needed a major change in terms of top leadership. 

So far, Payton has ran things the way most thought he would: aggressively. He's made plenty of big moves through the first week-and-a-half of free agency and said moves will have a big say in whether or not the Broncos succeed in 2023.

A big part of Payton's offseason conversations have revolved around the wide receiver room and it involves trading players like Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. 

Or, in other words: The Broncos most important receivers. 

All of said conversations have ended with potential trade partners declaring the Broncos' asking price being "too high", however. So, it doesn't seem like any of Wilson's top targets are in danger of getting shipped out.

And, based off Payton's latest comments, opposing teams shouldn't expect that to happen.

"I see and read just like everyone else does," Payton told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero Sunday evening. "Then occasionally, when someone really crowds the plate, I throw a fastball right at their chin, and they back up, and they're like, 'Alright.' And so I haven't thrown any fastballs lately, but we're not trading those two players.

"When people call and the phone rings like it does this time of year, (general manager) George Paton's job is to pick it up and say, 'Hey. Tell you what, we're not.' And so, we've received calls, you bet. Those are two good football players. But we're in the business of gathering talent right now. Why do people call? Because they know we're void of draft picks and that we might, because there was some discussions a year ago, I think, regarding Courtland. But we like the current group that we're working with."

Payton immediately shot himself in the foot with the above comments. He needs to look at the situation as bluntly as possible: The Broncos are in absolute dire need of draft picks. Especially premium draft picks.

The Broncos have only five draft picks in 2023, but the worst part is they don't pick until pick No. 67, which is the third pick in the third round. That's an extremely long wait when it comes to adding a young impact player and it amplifies the pressure to make the correct pick by tenfold. 

It would greatly benefit the Broncos to find a way to get some kind of pick before then. Denver could easily get a second-rounder, at minimum, for either Jeudy or Sutton. That only helps their case, at the end of the day. The main reason why is because the departure of either player won't create a major void on the roster. If Jeudy goes, then Kendall Hinton or Montrell Washington (or a free agent/draft pick) can man the slot and Sutton takes over at the X. If Sutton goes, then Jeudy takes over at the X and the aforementioned situation happens with the slot position, but, Jeudy can also mix in, when needed.

Wilson isn't a developing quarterback on a rookie deal that needs as much help as possible around him in order to develop. He's a Super Bowl champion – a battle-tested veteran who has proven he can have success at the highest levels. He doesn't need premium talent at every level of the roster. 

And if potential trade partners already thought the Broncos' asking price was too high, what are they going to think, now? Are Payton's comments really going to make them think, "Oh man. He's not playing around. We better up the ante for either receiver that has big questions on their own individual level!"

If you said "no" to that, then congratulations – you operate in common sense. Teams could easily shut down any and/or all talks when it comes to a potential trade, which would only hurt the Broncos, in the end.

Hopefully Payton leaves all doors open when it comes to improving the Broncos roster. Because, based off last year, it seems awfully short-sighted if he doesn't.

You can check out Pelissero's interview with Payton, here.