There are few clues as to where Russell Wilson will end up in the 2024 season, and the Broncos are likely looking to move on from the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
The Seahawks legend provided one Thursday.
Shaun Alexander, who won NFL MVP in 2005 and led Seattle to Super Bowl IV, said on his show Thursday that he has heard rumors that Wilson could be joining the Falcons. He told Kay Adams on “Up & Adams.”
“I hear it’s probably Atlanta,” Alexander said. “That’s what I’ve heard, but I don’t really understand.”
The Falcons, who recently hired Raheem Morris as their new head coach after meeting with Bill Belichick twice, need an answer at quarterback and would be a logical candidate for Wilson.
Desmond Ridder, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, failed to make an impression in his first year as a starter this season, throwing for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 12 touchdowns in 15 games (13 starts). He recorded 12 interceptions.
The 24-year-old was benched multiple times to make way for backup Taylor Heinicke.
Wilson, 35, was expected to lead the Broncos back to fame after being acquired from Seattle in a 2022 trade and signing a five-year, $242.6 million contract extension.
But the first season under first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett was a disaster, with Hackett fired 15 games into the season after a 4-11 start.
Wilson completed a career-low 60.5 percent of his passes for 16 touchdowns, 3,524 yards and 11 interceptions in 15 games, while being sacked 55 times.
The Broncos then brought in Sean Payton as their new head coach, and although Wilson’s numbers improved (26 touchdowns, 8 interceptions), Payton was clearly not happy with Wilson, and at times was on the sideline playing quarterback. reprimanded.
In late October, the Broncos approached Wilson about adjusting the guaranteed money on his contract, and Wilson said the team threatened to bench him if he didn’t agree to it.
Wilson ended up being benched for the final two games of the season, with Jarrett Stidham starting in those two games.
Wilson and the Broncos started 1-5 in 2023, won five straight, but then lost three of four games and were benched.
“I don’t know what happened,” Alexander said. “The stats were there and they were on a five-game winning streak. I thought, ‘This is it.'” We’re going to do this from now on. ‘So there was a time when Sean or someone in his group thought, “This isn’t going to last long.” I thought they were there. If we can win five games in a row…we’re doing something right. ”
Payton surprisingly didn’t rule out the possibility of Wilson returning to Denver after the season, but the situation between the two appears unsustainable.
The Falcons have the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, so they won’t have a chance to draft one of the top two or three quarterbacks unless they make a trade.
