An upset loss to the Patriots on Christmas Eve set forth a chain reaction that led to the Broncos’ behind-the-scenes drama with Russell Wilson becoming public days later. Wilson appears headed toward free agency, but the Broncos are stopping short of confirming that.
Sean Payton and GM George Paton said Tuesday the two-year Denver starting quarterback could return in 2024, with the veteran head coach indicating (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) he spoke at length with Wilson after the season ended. Paton said (via Tomasson) the 12-year QB is open to coming back.
Wilson said as much two weeks ago, confirming the rumors the Broncos approached him about changing the guarantee vesting date in his contract. Paton confirmed the Broncos made a “good faith” effort to address the $49MM-AAV contract during the team’s bye week, contacting Wilson’s agent, Tomasson adds. This brought the NFLPA into the process, though no grievance is expected.
“I spent half an hour with Russ yesterday, and I told him, I said, ‘Look, I don’t think it’s going to be a long, drawn-out process, but it hasn’t been decided relative to what our plans are,’” Payton said, via NFL.com’s James Palmer. “But as soon as we know something, certainly he would be the first to know.”
Paton later said he works collaboratively with Payton, but the three-year GM indicted the late-December benching was independent of the guarantee that would kick in had Wilson suffered an injury that would have prevented him from passing a physical in March. Considering the circumstances, that is rather difficult to believe.
“During the bye week, I did reach out to Russ’ agent in a good-faith and creative attempt to adjust his contract,’’ Paton said. “We couldn’t get a deal done. We moved on with our season. It didn’t come up again.”
The Broncos retaining Wilson past the fifth day of the 2024 league year would lead to his $37MM 2025 base salary becoming guaranteed. Wilson’s 2024 money is already locked in, and a March release would still result in a record-smashing $84.6MM in dead money associated with a single player. The Broncos would assuredly spread that over two offseasons, via a post-June 1 designation. If they kept Wilson for 2024, he would be just as difficult to release in 2025. The 2025 salary guarantee vesting this March would lead to an $86MM dead-money hit in the event of a ’25 release.
Wilson, 35, has expected to be released for weeks. The Broncos, however, do not have access to the top quarterbacks in the draft. Barring a trade, that is. Considering Denver already traded two first-round picks for Wilson and sent the Saints first- and second-rounders for Payton’s rights, a trade-up maneuver for a passer would be particularly costly. The Broncos hold the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft, complicating their path to land a rookie.
The free agency crop stands to feature Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield as the top names, but both arms have expressed interest in staying with their current teams. Ryan Tannehill, Gardner Minshew, Sam Darnold, Jacoby Brissett, Jake Browning and ex-Payton Saints charge Jameis Winston are among the notable QBs on track for free agency. Jarrett Stidham‘s $10MM contract runs through 2024, putting the two-time contract-driven replacement in play to be a Broncos bridge starter in 2024.
Paton being the point man on the Wilson trade and Nathaniel Hackett hire naturally invited rumors about his job status, seeing as Payton inherited the ex-Vikings exec as GM. But Payton again offered support for his coworker Tuesday. This follows a Sunday report that indicated Paton is more likely to stay for a fourth year. When asked (via Tomasson) who has the final say if a Payton-Paton disagreement ensues, the GM said that scenario has not yet come up. While John Elway‘s GM successor has offered hits (the 2021 draft), his misses (a list that also includes Randy Gregory) have outshined those through three years.
After the team gave up a blockbuster trade haul to land Wilson, another offseason looks set to be devoted to identifying a passer. Unless Wilson changes his mind and is suddenly amenable to a pay cut or a reworking that gives the Broncos more flexibility, Payton is likely to have his first chance in Denver to handpick a starting quarterback. It would be unlikely Paton stands in the HC’s way.
Which franchise is more poorly run, Den or Carolina?
My vote is Carolina. There is no patience or loyalty, and expectations are impossible to meet because all success is hindered by a meddling owner. At least the Broncos front office/HC have the freedom to ruin the team on their own.
Not to mention the fact that Denver has won more games, and almost snuck into the playoffs this year (not to mention the fact that they swept the division leading Chiefs as well). As much of a stranglehold this Wilson contract has them in, they’re still a middling team right now. We can convincingly put more than five teams solidly below them at the moment.
I think the Broncos should have let Russ cook. Not letting him cook was a big mistake on their part.
Look, the meat is tender. If you don’t like it go to Outback Steakhouse.
LOL! Very tender!
Russ may have cooked the porterhouse well done, but Payton wanted it medium rare.
We all saw how rus tried to cook last season.
these are the worst metaphors ever
He started it. When you trademark “Let Russ Cook” and then you burn dinner, you are going to have to answer for that!
Jake Browning is not a FA this offseason. The Bengals hold an option to sign him back for league minimum which they surely will do unless they offer him a better contract (also a possibility).
Wouldn’t be a bad idea to trade him for a pick(s) considering how valuable starting caliber QBs are in this league.
They’ll be shopping him to Titans, Falcons, Panthers, Pats, Chicago, Washington and Vikings.
Try to find a trade partner so Payton can draft someone that more of a pocket passer. Maybe try to pry Browning from Cincy.
I’d be shocked if any team traded for Russ with that contract
To be fair, the 4 teams with the highest dead cap all made the playoffs this year. If they hit on drafting its possible russ could help a team like Atlanta if they draft well this spring.
Especially since they can just wait until he is cut.
With that contract Denver will never get back the draft picks and players, Denver is stuck, if they could trade in they would get nothing more than a 7th round pick plus have to pay a big percentage of the contract.
They are forgetting Joe Flacco. He’ll be a starting QB next year.
Figure he might stay put….Watson seems fragile
Fragile? This is the first year he’s been injured since his rookie year
They all get fragile once injured. Even regular folk, like me, get taken down by seemingly odd breakdowns just like any machine.
Well Brady won multiple Super Bowls after he had knee surgery. I guess Burrow, Jackson, Cousins, Rodgers, Jones, and Richardson are done for their careers
I targeted only Watson as he also seems to lack ‘fire’ since his move to the Browns, he also doesn’t appear, from afar, to have grit.
Cousins has grit, Richardson is too new to gauge, Burrow has moxie, Jackson is a dynamite freak, Rodger’s might break something in ‘24 and which Jones do you reference?
Haha. You have no idea what’s in anyone’s heart, especially a guy who hangs on the internet all day commenting on sports. I’m referring to Daniel Jones since he’s the only starting quarterback with a season ending injury named Jones. Watson has been come back from injuries before in his rookie year and I know your response will be but now he has a guaranteed contract. Do you think he doesn’t want another big contract? He’s only 28 and will be 31 when his contract ends and probably 30 when he gets extended if he comes back and plays well. He has all the incentives 6 keep the fire you say he doesn’t have
I’d have to talk to him to ascertain if he has ‘fire’ for football. Otherwise I’ve no faith in the guy.
He’s 5-1 this year as a starter
Keep him then
They will. He beat Baltimore
Fire everyone who was involved in giving out that albatross of a contract. Don’t give them the chance to do more damage.
“Good faith” in the NFL is becoming as rare as a game without officiating boo-boos.
Yeah, there’s nothing good faith about going to a guy you agreed to a contract with and trying to get him to give up guaranteed money.
Let’s face it Wilson was good under a Pete Carroll team concept. Wilson did not have to have or be the core leader of the Seahawks. Now with Denver after Denver gave up the compensation in draft picks and players, it did leave a hole in Denver’s draft collateral for a couple season plus a good young TE, and a backup QB to go along with it. Then you throw in the contract, you bet Denver is having second thoughts about the deal. Wilson was not the type of QB Denver would win with, now if they would of taken all that effort and really put it into getting Aaron Rogers I think Denver would be whistling a different tune.
I hear Zach Wilson will be available in the offseason. 😉