If the Broncos end up releasing Russell Wilson, his next NFL team might be able to sign him for relatively peanuts.
The 35-year-old quarterback may be willing to sign a minimum contract as an NFL free agent, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday on “SportsCenter.”
“Everyone I’ve talked to around the league knows that the Denver Broncos will rip the bandaid off at some point in the new league year in the next few weeks, even though they owe him $39 million in guaranteed money. “I expect they’ll release Russell Wilson,” Fowler said. According to Bleacher Report.
“But they can start fresh and he can go sign somewhere else. He’s got that much money in hand, all guaranteed, so maybe even the league minimum.” , I feel like he’s going to sign at a pretty low price. And he’s going to have options. My feeling from talking to teams and scouts is that he’s still a starter in the NFL and there’s a lot of room for him somewhere. That means there will be jobs.”
Denver would have to pay $85 million in dead money to let Wilson go, but if he doesn’t release Wilson from his contract by March 17, he will be owed $37 million through the 2025 season.
Wilson’s contract includes offset language, so signing a larger contract with another team would ease the financial burden on the Broncos.
Wilson is coming off a turbulent two years with the Broncos, and if he wants a contract above the minimum, he’ll likely get a decent salary on the open market.
Wilson struggled in his first season with Denver in 2022 after joining from the Seahawks in a trade, with first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett fired after 15 games, resulting in low completion percentage (60.5) and touchdowns ( 16), a career low.
Wilson threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 15 games in 2023, with new head coach Sean Payton sitting on the bench for the Broncos’ final two games of the season.
The Broncos went 7-8 in games in which Wilson started.
