How the Broncos can soften the financial blow of Russell Wilson’s contract

Despite the huge financial hit the team will take, the Denver Broncos reportedly plan to move on from quarterback Russell Wilson when the 2023 season officially ends.

Denver owes Wilson $39M guaranteed in 2024 whether he’s on its roster or not, but according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there may be a way the Broncos aren’t on the hook for the entire $85M in dead cap the team would have to absorb over the next two years ($35.4M in 2024, $49.6M in 2025) if it designated him as a post-June 1 release. 

But just like parting ways with the 35-year-old QB, it’ll cost them.

“One veteran NFL agent floated this idea: the Broncos could offer a trade to prospective teams on a sliding scale of draft compensation,” Fowler wrote. “For example, if Team X agrees to pay $25M of the $39M, the Broncos would perhaps throw in multiple mid-round picks. It's like a larger-scale Brock Osweiler trade.”

Fowler is of course referencing the March 2017 trade between the Texans and Browns that sent Osweiler from Houston to Cleveland in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round pick and a 2018 second-rounder.

While the Broncos haven't completely ruled out bringing Wilson back next season, it appears they're exploring every avenue possible to move on from the former All-Pro signal caller while minimizing the financial damage to the franchise.