Russell Wilson's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

When asked about quarterback Russell Wilson's trade market this offseason, Denver Broncos general manager George Paton said he hasn't been contacted by any teams. Meanwhile, head coach Sean Payton said on Tuesday that a decision on Wilson's future with the team will come "in the next two weeks" before the start of free agency. Expectations are that Wilson will be released before the start of the new league year on March 13, which will cause Denver to carry an $85 million dead-money salary cap hit in 2024. The 35-year-old had a bounce-back season in 2023 in his second year with the team, but his fate seemed sealed when the Broncos benched him for the final two regular season games. Wilson didn't appear finished quite yet last year, but even a move to a better team in 2024 wouldn't ensure that he'd be a trustworthy QB1 in fantasy.

What the Denver Broncos decide to do with quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason is one of the biggest storylines in the NFL. The Broncos can keep him in the fold for 2024, knowing the quarterback room will be awkward after they benched him for the final two games of the season. Virtually no one around the NFL expects Wilson to return, though, since it would lock in $37 million in 2025 guarantees. They could pay him $37 million of 2024 guarantees to go away, knowing offsets will be minimal with prospective teams leveraging Denver's guaranteed money against him. It will be tough to trade him. The money paid to Wilson handcuffs a team that is probably going to be forced to go cheap at QB, either with veteran Jarrett Stidham, another veteran or a draft pick.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that the team will decide on the future of quarterback Russell Wilson "sooner than later" as an important deadline related to his contract looms. The 35-year-old QB has a trigger in his contract that would guarantee his $37 million salary for 2025 if he's still on the roster on March 17. If the Broncos want to cut Wilson, they would be on the hook for $85 million in dead money as the result of future guarantees accelerating onto the 2024 salary cap. Denver could split the charges over two seasons via a post-June 1 release. The Broncos have the No. 12 pick in the upcoming NFL draft and could be looking for a new signal-caller after the team benched Wilson with two games left in 2023. Payton said the team is evaluating their QB options through a fresh lens and have yet to make any final decisions.

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson bounced back from a disastrous 2022 season in 2023. The veteran completed over 66% of his passes for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 15 starts. However, the Broncos still benched him for the team's final two games, marking what looked to be the end of his time in Denver. However, head coach Sean Payton said Wilson has a chance to return in 2024, "That final decision has not been made," Payton said. Ultimately, this report should be taken with a grain of salt, as things have seemingly gotten ugly between the QB and the head coach. It would be surprising if Wilson is back in Denver next year, but Payton has not closed the door on it happening.