After two underwhelming seasons, it seems as though the Broncos’ Russell Wilson era is drawing to an end.
Denver coach Sean Payton declared on Wednesday that backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham will start in place of Wilson for the team’s last two games of the 2023 NFL season.
Although Payton maintained that the choice was taken “to get a spark offensively,” many have pointed out that Wilson’s benching ensures he won’t be exposed to an additional $37 million in injury guarantees in his deal.
This suggests that the 35-year-old quarterback will be released by the Broncos before to the start of his five-year, $242.6 million contract deal.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Wilson is expected to be dismissed during the 2024 NFL offseason.
Although Wilson didn’t perform up to the team’s expectations overall in Denver, there should still be a lot of interest in hiring him. Although he may not have the same explosive playmaking ability as he once had, in 2023 he demonstrated his ability to manage a game well by completing 66.4 percent of his throws for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Wilson’s $49 million average annual value (AAV) contract with the Broncos may not have been justified by that alone. However, it ought to be sufficient to draw in some suitors who want to bolster their quarterback rooms with veteran assistance and depth.
Desmond Ridder’s stock with the Falcons going into the 2023 NFL season was high, but he hasn’t played well as the team’s starter. The second-year player’s tenure as a starting quarterback should come to an end after he was benched twice in favour of Taylor Heinicke.
Wilson would provide the Falcons a reliable game manager who could pass the ball to Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London, Atlanta’s three best offensive players. His precision and propensity to avoid making mistakes in the red zone might be a huge asset for the Falcons, who are quickly gaining ground in the competitive NFC South.
Therefore, Wilson appears to be a respectable consolation prize if Atlanta is unable to acquire one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
