The Russell Wilson era with the Broncos is officially over after two seasons. The Denver Broncos announced Monday that they will release Russell Wilson after the new league year starts on March 13, Ian Rapoport reported.
Broncos GM George Paton and HC Sean Payton released a statement regarding the move.
“On behalf of the Broncos, we thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community while wishing him the best as he continues his career,” general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton said in a joint statement.
“As we move forward, we are focused on building the strongest team possible for the 2024 season and beyond. We are excited to improve this offseason and will have the flexibility to get better through the draft and free agency.”
Wilson thanked the city of Denver and expressed that he is “excited for what’s next.” The 35-year-old quarterback did not mention Sean Payton or George Paton in his statement.
Denver’s move to release Wilson means a $39 million hit but avoids a $37 million guarantee due this month. The Broncos will take on $85 million in total dead salary cap over the next two years. This will mark the NFL’s biggest dead cap hit in history.
In 30 games, Wilson quarterbacked the Broncos to an 11-19 record, throwing 42 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, and completing 63.3%. With Wilson at quarterback, Denver’s offense ranked poorly, averaging 18.9 points and 311.7 yards per game, ranked 26th and 27th.
The Broncos will proceed for the time being with Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci. They both have 5 career starts combined. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Denver anticipates selecting a quarterback prospect with the 12th overall pick.
The 35-year-old Wilson is about to begin his 13th NFL season. The nine-time Pro Bowler is still the only player in NFL history with at least 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards, and he still has the second-highest passer rating in the Super Bowl era (100.0) despite his decline in Denver.
Wilson still believes he has much to offer in the pros, as seen by his most recent remarks. It’s simply that he won’t be in Denver.
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