Cryptic Russell Wilson Tweet May Hint at the QB's Future With Broncos
Nearly four weeks since Russell Wilson was benched, we're still waiting for a resolution to provide clarity at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Wilson claims he was benched because he was unwilling to remove the injury guarantees from his contract, which Broncos GM George Paton has denied.
Shortly after the news of Wilson's benching dropped, the veteran quarterback leaked to the media his expectation that the Broncos would release him in 2024. However, he's also expressed the desire to remain a Bronco to finish what he started when the Seattle Seahawks traded him to Denver in the spring of 2022.
During their respective end-of-season press conferences, Paton and Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the "door is open" to Wilson returning. That same day, however, CEO Greg Penner acknowledged "the financial part" of Wilson's contract being a "significant component" to the team and player continuing on together.
Fast forward to today, and there hasn't been much by way of an update on the situation. However, one of Wilson's most recent tweets would imply that he envisions playing for the Broncos in 2024, and more specifically, with wide receiver Courtland Sutton.
Commenting on his favorite plays of 2023, including a spectacular Wilson-to-Sutton connection in Buffalo, the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback hyped big things coming in 2024.
"The Double Spin 'Toe Tap' by Courtland Sutton in Buffalo," Wilson tweeted, "and us finally beating KC were my favs! Which were yours!? 2023 was fun. 2024 about to be better!!!"
Sutton caught 10 touchdown passes from Wilson in 2023, a career-high mark. The two have a productive bond and on-field chemistry.
Sutton also made news recently via a cryptic Instagram post where he seemed to be saying goodbye to Broncos Country. The Broncos enter the offseason $24 million above the salary cap, which is akin to maxing out a $200 credit card with a $224 balance, which could call Sutton's future with the team into question.
These financial constraints are untimely considering the number of roster holes the Broncos are dealing with. Excluding quarterback, the Broncos need upgrades on the defensive line, outside linebacker, tight end, wide receiver, and cornerback, with incumbent starters poised to hit free agency like center Lloyd Cushenberry III, linebacker Josey Jewell, and safety P.J. Locke.
Considering that the Broncos are on the hook to pay Wilson's fully guaranteed $17 million salary in 2024, whether he's on the roster or not, keeping him around for another season would be the simplest thing to do, from the outside looking in. It would remove the immediate, desperate need for a new starting quarterback, but based on his current contract, it would also essentially tie the Broncos to Wilson for the next two seasons.
Wilson has a $37M salary in 2025. However, if the Broncos release Wilson this offseason and designate him a post-June 1 cut, the team would incur a $34.5M dead-money hit to the salary cap, which would be followed by $18.4M in dead-cap hits in each of the following two seasons.
If Payton believes on any level he can still make lemonade with Wilson, who has shown concerning signs of regression over the past two seasons, the Broncos' path of least resistance would definitely be to hold onto him.
However, that's unlikely to happen unless Wilson is willing to renegotiate certain aspects of his contract, and after going through the public humiliation of being benched for the first time in his NFL career, the QB has very little incentive to play ball with the Broncos on a renegotiation, unless he was just dying to remain in Denver.
The Broncos' end-of-season pressers were on January 9. The team brass said it would take two weeks off, then circle back at Dove Valley to begin hashing out the big offseason questions weighing the team down.
The Wilson situation will be the first issue tackled by the Broncos' brain trust. Fans could get a resolution on this subject as soon as this coming week, in between the Divisional Round and Conference Championship games of the playoffs.
Stay tuned.
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