Insider hints Broncos ready to move on from Russell Wilson

Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Insider hints Broncos are ready to move on from Russell Wilson

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/16/23

After leading the Denver Broncos to a 5-16 record in his first 21 starts, Russell Wilson’s time with the team could be nearing its end, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Sitting at 1-5 with just two more games before the Oct. 31 trade deadline, the Broncos could be looking at a fire sale. Should that happen, there’s a chance head coach Sean Payton will want to draft his own quarterback as Denver begins a full-scale rebuild.

“It’s unclear whether Payton will stick with Russell Wilson at quarterback past this season,” Russini wrote. “If the Broncos decide to move on from him, Wilson has another $37M that becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2024 league year in March. I would be surprised if Wilson is part of the Broncos’ future.”

“Sean Payton knows without a shadow of a doubt that he is not going forward with Russell Wilson” pic.twitter.com/mF6MaWPGFo
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) October 13, 2023

If Denver parts with Wilson, it will go down as one of the worst – and most expensive – moves in franchise history. The Broncos traded quarterback Drew Lock, defensive tackle Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant plus 2022 first-, second- and fifth-round picks and 2023 first- and second-round picks for Wilson and ultimately signed him to a five-year, $245M extension.

Though Wilson has played better under Payton this year (65.9 completion percentage, 99 passer rating, 12 touchdowns, four interceptions), the Broncos rank just 21st in total offense and 19th in scoring offense.

Russell Wilson already has $39M guaranteed next season. Any kind of significant injury that would not allow him to pass a physical in March would guarantee another $37M. At some point the #Broncos probably have to consider pulling him as starter
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) October 13, 2023

If the Broncos do, in fact, part ways with Wilson, it’ll be costly. If they cut him post-June 1, they’ll incur $35.4M in dead money. If they trade him pre-June 1, they’ll take a $68M hit in dead cap, while a post-June 1 trade would cost them $18M in dead money, per Over the Cap.

With Wilson turning 35 in a little over a month, it would make sense for Payton to want a younger replacement with whom to begin a rebuild. The Broncos are on track to have a top-five pick in the 2024 draft and pairing one of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix or J.J. McCarthy with Payton would likely be too enticing to pass up.

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