Russell Wilson Signing with Falcons? 3 Ways Move Might Work for Failed QB
It is a $37 million benching, and it likely marks the end of Russell Wilson's very pricy and very short time with the Denver Broncos.
Should it signal the beginning of Russell Wilson's tenure in a new locale ... like with the Atlanta Falcons?
The Broncos are moving on from Wilson for a number of reasons, and those reasons will pop up again as the former Seattle Seahawks' superstar and Super Bowl champ tries to rehab his career.
The three considerations as the Falcons consider whether Wilson might be the answer to the QB dilemma in Atlanta ...
1 - A driving force in Denver: He has $37 million coming to him in an injury guarantee. So letting him play in the Broncos' final two (largely meaningless games) does not make fiscal sense. Nor, ultimately, does Denver staying committed to that gigantic $245 million contract that is set to count $35.4 million against the 2024 salary cap.
Can Denver escape some of that? Cutting him after June 1 can help.
2 - It could be at that time that the Falcons and other suitors make a move.
But that move cannot - well, should not - be a trade. A trade before June 1 would result in an immediate loss of $32.6 million against the Broncos' 2024 cap. ... and of course would see the new employer having to deal with that bloated contract.
Wilson as a free agent without much bargaining power? That's worth a conversation. ... though that June 1 date creates a problem for any team trying to build a program. Does Atlanta really want to sit around, through the NFL Draft in April and through NFL free agency in March, all just to wait on Wilson?
That would not be wise.
3 - But let's pretend the acquisition is free and the contract isn't costly. Who is the Falcons coach who endorses this controversial move? If Arthur Smith stays, does he want to attach his career to this? If a new coach is hired, won't he be much like Sean Payton has been in Denver - which has been all about tolerating the baggage that is Wilson, a QB not of his choosing?
And ultimately: Are there better options - if not young Desmond Ridder, than somebody - who can lift the Falcons roster to true playoff contention in ways that Wilson has not proven in Denver that he can?
Maybe the Broncos end up stuck with Wilson, but they will obviously be unhappy with that. And ultimately, if the Broncos are unhappy with Wilson, maybe Atlanta should learn a lesson from that.
