Falcons Listed as Potential Suitor for Broncos QB Russell Wilson in Free Agency
For the third consecutive offseason, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to be in the market for a quarterback.
After benching Desmond Ridder twice in favor of veteran backup Taylor Heinicke, the Falcons are left searching for answers under center - and may turn to a nine-time Pro Bowler to find a solution.
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, who was benched this week amidst contractual disputes, is expected to be released before the new league year begins Mar. 13, 2024.
And according to ESPN, the Falcons - along with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, among others - could be in pursuit of Wilson.
"Talked to teams who believe like Atlanta, Pittsburgh, New England, a lot of teams could use a good veteran who was still playing relatively well this year," ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler said.
Dec 10, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts following the victory against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Wilson will receive $37 million guaranteed from the Broncos and is expected to have a market once he becomes available.
This season, the 35-year-old completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions while guiding the Broncos to a 7-8 record.
Wilson's two-year tenure in Denver comes to a close following ongoing off-field controversy with Broncos management, who told the former Seattle Seahawks star he needed to delay his guaranteed money until 2025.
"They came up to me during the beginning of the bye week, Monday or Tuesday, they told me if I didn’t change my contract, my injury guarantee, that I’d be benched the rest of the year," Wilson said Friday.
It evidently wasn't immediate, as Wilson started the next seven games, during which Denver went 4-3 ... but he's now set to be on the sidelines watching Jarrett Stidham over the final two weeks.
As for the Falcons, Heinicke's aiming for a strong closing stretch with hopes of turning slim playoff hopes into a storybook ending - but regardless, the 30-year-old is unlikely to be back in Atlanta as the starter next season.
A key element in the Falcons' potential pursuit of Wilson is the job status of coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot, with the former finding himself on particularly thin ice.
Should Smith and Fontenot miss the playoffs but return to their respective roles for a fourth season, they'll likely be in a postseason-or-bust situation.
Would the duo risk such a year on a rookie quarterback? Perhaps - but at least on paper, opting to acquire a veteran starter seems more likely for a staff in desperate need of wins.
As such, with Wilson expected to be amongst the best veteran options available this offseason, it's little surprise the Falcons find themselves in this conversation.
It's worth noting Atlanta is scheduled to play the Broncos in Denver next season - but the implications surrounding that game are a story for another day.
For now, the Falcons (7-8) are focused on the present - with a must-win game coming Sunday at 1 p.m. EST against the Chicago Bears (6-9) inside Soldier Field.
