Russell Wilson's star fades after his first season as Broncos' quarterback

How it works: Quarterbacks are ranked from tier one — a guy whose team wins because of him — to tier four — an unproven player. There are five levels (with fifth being the worst) but none of the 30 veteran quarterbacks ranked received any votes for the final tier.

• Wilson ranked among quarterbacks described as legitimate starters but in need of a strong defense or running game to be successful.

State of play: His drop in voting was the largest single-year decline in the history of quarterback rankings.

Zoom in: Wilson ranks just four spots ahead of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, who enjoyed a stellar season after Wilson was shipped to Denver from Seattle.

• Following one of the worst seasons of his career, one personnel director said Wilson has lost some athleticism and speed.

Reality check: Two people told The Athletic they believe Wilson's play will improve this year under new head coach Sean Payton.

The bottom line: Wilson will get a chance to showcase his progress under Payton in the team's first preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday.

• While the game means nothing in the standings, he told the team's website this week it's an opportunity to develop an identity and give young players a chance to shine.
• "As a veteran … it's about seeing those guys develop and grow and take everything they've done at such a high level on the game field," Wilson said this week.