Russell Wilson may be returning to the Denver Broncos after all.
The Super Bowl-winning signal-caller appeared to be headed for a divorce with the Broncos after two consecutive lackluster seasons following a blockbuster trade between Denver and the Seattle Seahawks.
NFL Network Insiders reported early Sunday morning that plans could change as the Broncos enter Sean Payton’s second season as head coach.
“The Broncos are keeping all options on the table with QB, including the possibility of resuming negotiations with QB.” Russell Wilson about restructure his contract to keep him in Denver until 2024,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo noted in a Sunday article.
Wilson, who turned 35 in November, is set to make $39 million fully guaranteed and another $37 million in injury guarantees in the upcoming 2025 season, and will be on the roster by March 17 of this year. It seems like the full amount is guaranteed. That’s why he was benched for the final two games of the 2023 season.
The Broncos previously approached Wilson during the bye week about moving the March 17 date.
Wilson and his representatives then notified the NFL Players Association.
“Yeah, we beat the Chiefs. They came to me during the bye week, the beginning of the bye week, Monday or Tuesday, and said if we don’t change the contract and the injury guarantee, I’ll do it. ‘He’ll probably be on the bench for the rest of the year,’ Wilson said. spoke at a media session December 29th, right after being benched.
“And we had like nine games left. I was definitely disappointed in that, and it was a process all week and all through the bye week.”
According to NFL Network reports, it doesn’t seem very likely that Wilson will return on a restructured contract, but sources said, “If Wilson is willing to stay and there are no better options, the team will not sign a contract.” There is a possibility that we will work on fine-tuning the system again.” It’s not going to happen for either side. ”
Payton said during a radio appearance this week in the run-up to the 2024 Super Bowl that the Broncos will begin draft meetings the Monday after the season ends.
He said decisions regarding Wilson’s future were a priority.
Jarrett Stidham, who started for the Broncos after Wilson was benched, is under contract for the 2024 season, the last of a two-year, $10 million contract he signed last offseason.
Wilson, who started 15 games for the Broncos last season, had a much better season than his first season in Denver in 2022.
Wilson completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,070 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
In 2022, he started 15 games while completing a career-worst 60.5 percent with 3,524 passing yards, a career-low 16 touchdown passes, and 11 interceptions.
The Broncos, who went 8-9 last season (7-8 in games Wilson started), have the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The team improved by three games from 5-12 in 2022.
