Yet Another QB Change: Wilson Benched for Year

[RollerColt]

Russell Wilson is no longer the starter for the 2023 Broncos:

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-benching-qb-russell-wilson-for-remainder-of-2023-to-preserve-financial-f

[VikingsFanInChennai]

1 hour ago, RollerColt said:

Russell Wilson is no longer the starter for the 2023 Broncos:

 

https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-benching-qb-russell-wilson-for-remainder-of-2023-to-preserve-financial-f

Quote

The Las Vegas Raiders used a similar tactic last season with Derek Carr, benching the starter in favor of then-backup Stidham. Now in Denver, Stidham takes over after signing with the Mile High club this offseason.

Thus, Jarrett Stidham has become the "Injury Preservation" backup QB of the NFL! 

[sb41champs]

It's looking like they may be planning to do the same thing with Russell Wilson as the Raiders are doing with Jimmy Garrapolo.

 

Don't want to get the $$$ QB injured in meaningless games to end the season.

 

Best wishes to both QB's in the future.

[RollerColt]

It will be something to watch if the Broncos decide to eat Wilson’s contact and toss him out. 

[ColtsGermany]

They're probably moving on from Wilson in the offseason. Wondering how they will adress the qb position.

FA? Or trade up (unlikely as there are too many qb needy teams in front of them.would be pretty expensive)?

Or maybe "tank" a year and get a high enough pick to chose a longterm solution via draft.

Thoughts?

[LJpalmbeacher2]

9 minutes ago, ColtsGermany said:

They're probably moving on from Wilson in the offseason. Wondering how they will adress the qb position.

FA? Or trade up (unlikely as there are too many qb needy teams in front of them.would be pretty expensive)?

Or maybe "tank" a year and get a high enough pick to chose a longterm solution via draft.

Thoughts?

 

I bet they are sorry they went on a winning streak that will hurt them from acquiring the two hot shot QBs in draft. 

[jvan1973]

27 minutes ago, ColtsGermany said:

They're probably moving on from Wilson in the offseason. Wondering how they will adress the qb position.

FA? Or trade up (unlikely as there are too many qb needy teams in front of them.would be pretty expensive)?

Or maybe "tank" a year and get a high enough pick to chose a longterm solution via draft.

Thoughts?

Probably not FA.  85 million in dead money.   Spread over 2 seasons,  but ouch

[Blueblood23]

Maybe Payton is benching Wilson for his own shortcomings. I believe Wilson is a great guy 

and wish him the best.

[RollerColt]

I always kinda had a soft spot for Wilson. Liked his game and honestly he was doing Mahomes things before Mahomes.

 

His play since leaving Seattle hasn’t been good, but it hasn’t been horrible either. He’s regressed for sure. But he seems like a nice dude. The biggest problem with Wilson is his ridiculous salary. 

[ArmchairQB]

Denver’s tradition of trying to win championships by landing big name QB from somewhere else has finally bit them. 
 

I agree that Sean Payton may be trying to deflect some blame.  He never won in New Orleans without Brees.  He has a legacy to protect. 

[VikingsFanInChennai]

8 hours ago, ColtsGermany said:

They're probably moving on from Wilson in the offseason. Wondering how they will adress the qb position.

FA? Or trade up (unlikely as there are too many qb needy teams in front of them.would be pretty expensive)?

Or maybe "tank" a year and get a high enough pick to chose a longterm solution via draft.

Thoughts?

There would be a team that would trade for Russell Wilson, Broncos will bite some cap and get to draft a rookie QB while Payton gets to stay there.

 

Sean Payton always had cap troubles with Saints for the most part of the last decade, so he would look to get out of that exact scenario in Denver ASAP. 

[King Colt]

Seems to me Payton said it poor coaching responsible for their poor performance last year. Could it be the same reason they are a fish out of water again this year?

[VikingsFanInChennai]

38 minutes ago, King Colt said:

Seems to me Payton said it poor coaching responsible for their poor performance last year. Could it be the same reason they are a fish out of water again this year?

NFL Keeps suspending their players who hit dirty to take opponent players out of the game.

 

It's hard to win with players in tub. 

[smittywerb]

There’s 2 reasons why Wilson is getting benched:

 

1.  He just doesn’t cut it.  Many people on this forum will say “his stats are good” (similar to how people thought wentz 2021 year was good) but when you watch the game it’s all short passes, checkdowns, screens, and maybe 1-3 deep throws.  Wilson game is limited.  

 

2.  Money saving move.  Reports saying that Broncos don’t want to pay Wilson $30 million if he gets injured.  They asked to take it out of the contract after the chiefs game and he refused.  So this is them basically saying we’re going to save that $30mill and cut you by March.  Nasty work by the broncos.  

[sb41champs]

The Vikings announced today that they are starting 5th round draft pick QB Jaren Hall over backup QB Nick Mullens - this weekend - in a MUST WIN game for the Vikings.

 

 

[RollerColt]

I don’t see the Broncos improving next year with a different QB. That team has a lot of problems, and their choice in the head coach is one of them.

 

Payton is a dirty coach who encourages head hunting. Dude shouldn’t even have a Super Bowl ring… should’ve been Vikings and Favre who played us back in ‘09.

[ForTheMinshew]

I mean he took up a lot of cap and picks and was pretty disappointing. Plus if he gets hurt they have to pay him a lot. Makes sense to me. Personally I think the Broncos need to start their rebuild. They're trying to make this work but it's really not. 

[w87r]

Broncos Dead Cap for Wilson:

Pre June 1st:

Release - (Not happening)(#4 option 4th likely to happen)

2024 Dead Cap: $85,000,000

2024 Cap Savings: $-49,600,000

Trade - (#2 option for Broncos/ 1st likely to happen)

2024 Dead Cap: $68,000,000

2024 Cap Savings: $-32,600,000

 

Broncos Dead Cap for Wilson:

Post June 1st:

Release - (#3 option for Broncos/ 2nd most likely to happen)

2024 Dead Cap: $35,400,000

2025 Dead Cap: $49,600,000

2024 Cap Savings: $0

Trade - (#1 option for Broncos/ 3rd  most likely to happen)

2024 Dead Cap: $18,400,000

2025 Dead Cap: $49,600,000

2024 Cap Savings: $17,000,000

 

 

Listed options and likelihood of the 4 results based on this thinking.

#1 option - Denver would love to post June 1st trade Wilson, but he would need to be on the team till after that point. Just doesn't seem very likely.

#2 option, and what I put 1st most likely to happen - Denver finds a trade target, because, well, see below. They will elect to take the bigger cap hit this year, so 1. They can save $17m by trading him, 2. Won't have to worry about it having ramifications after this season.

#3 option 2nd most likely to happen - post June 1st cut. Yeah the team eats all $85m, but it is spread over 2 years and doesn't cost any additional money this year than already allotted for. Player isn't physically still with the team till June 1st.

#4 option - it isn't happening.

 

 

Wilson's Cap Hits if Traded:

2024 - $17m guaranteed

2025 - $37m guaranteed (guaranteed with trade)

2025 - $40m non guaranteed 

2026 - $45m non guaranteed 

2027 - $50m non guaranteed 

 

 

 

So Wilson's contract doesn't look to bad for a team needing a QB for a couple of years. Can get out of last 3 years clean and clear.

 

 

 

 

Something else to consider is the Broncos are already about $20m over the cap going into next season, so any extra like option #2 and #4 above would increase that number substantially. Teams make it work all the time though.

[Mighty Blue]

On 12/28/2023 at 8:13 AM, smittywerb said:

There’s 2 reasons why Wilson is getting benched:

 

1.  He just doesn’t cut it.  Many people on this forum will say “his stats are good” (similar to how people thought wentz 2021 year was good) but when you watch the game it’s all short passes, checkdowns, screens, and maybe 1-3 deep throws.  Wilson game is limited.  

 

2.  Money saving move.  Reports saying that Broncos don’t want to pay Wilson $30 million if he gets injured.  They asked to take it out of the contract after the chiefs game and he refused.  So this is them basically saying we’re going to save that $30mill and cut you by March.  Nasty work by the broncos.  

 Interesting!     Hey FRussle, try not to trip over the jug that has High Quality H2O-you might get hurt!