By Mike Rifkin
One of the burning questions entering the NFL season was whether Sean Payton could resurrect Russell Wilson’s career. The answer to this question is a resounding no, as Wednesday, the Broncos announced that they are benching Wilson and starting Jarrett Stidham, and all signs point to Russell Wilson playing somewhere else in 2024. Wilson has had a decent season with a 66.4 completion percentage, 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. His numbers have increased from last season, where Wilson was awful under one-and-done head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Russell Wilson was traded to the Broncos before last season and subsequently signed a five-year 242 Million dollar deal, and now will not see that deal through in Denver.
Wilson’s 37 Million dollars for 2025 becomes fully guaranteed if he is on the roster at the start of the league year in March. So, two questions must be answered based on what is happening in Denver. The first question is where Russell Wilson could play football next year. The second is, what are the Broncos going to do at Quarterback?
Let’s start with Wilson, who will be 36 next November. Before going to the Broncos, rumors circulated that he would only accept a trade to the Bears, Cowboys, Saints (Payton’s former team), and Raiders. The Bears should have the first overall pick ( thanks, Panthers) and control the draft; I don’t think they trade for Russell Wilson; the Cowboys have Dak Prescott (who does need a new contract), but at this stage, he’s better than Wilson. The Saints just acquired Derek Carr, but the Saint’s most significant issue is not the quarterback position. Then there’s the Raiders, who I highly doubt would make a trade with their division rival.
So, none of those four are interested. Where else could Wilson play? Few teams could consider trading for the former Super Bowl Champ.
Washington Commanders are benching second-year QB Sam Howell for Jacoby Brissett, who is not their future. New owner Josh Harris might want to make a big splash in his first offseason.
Atlanta Falcons: If the Falcons miss the playoffs, it will be because they don’t have an answer at Quarterback. If the priority for the Falcons next season is the playoffs, they grab Wilson and draft a guy to sit behind him.
Tennessee Titans – Will Levis has been showing some progress as a rookie. But if the Titans can compete in the AFC South (which they can), they could upgrade the QB position. Russell Wilson and Deandre Hopkins could be a dynamic duo.
Pipedreams
New York Giants: This would make sense if the Giants had the talent to win Super Bowl and, you know, not locked into Daniel Jones. If there’s a way for the Giants to move Jones and get Wilson without giving up their high first-round pick, there could be a match.
New England Patriots: Let me start by saying this is a team that needs a full-scale rebuild, and the last thing they should consider is trading for Wilson. But if Bill Belichick remains in control, he could acquire Wilson to try to compete in an AFC East that should have Aaron Rodgers back next season.
So those are the teams that could trade for Wilson, so let’s see how the Broncos go about replacing him. I don’t expect Jarrett Stidham to be the guy. But here’s my question for the Broncos: is this the beginning of a rebuild? Are they also going to trade Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton? What do they do with a Patrick Surtain? Sean Payton is putting this team the way he wants, but who’ll be the Quarterback? They’d have the fourteenth overall pick right now, but depending on what they could get for Wilson, they could move up in the draft. Or do they go through free agency or make a trade? Here’s a list Denver should consider.
Free Agents
Sam Darnold – the former third overall pick, is backing up Brock Purdy, but if you give him Sean Payton, Darnold could show why he was drafted third, and he is just 26 years old.
Gardener Minshew – He’s given the Colts hope and a chance at the playoffs with Anthony Richardson out. You get the good with the bad from Minshew, but he deserves an opportunity to start.
Jameis Winston – He backed up Drew Brees under Payton in New Orleans, so he knows the system. Like Minshew, you take the good with the bad regarding the turnovers. He’ll be 30 in January.
Trades
Zach Wilson – This is low-risk, high reward; the former second-overall pick cannot be in New York next year and shouldn’t have been this year. But for a mid to late-round pick plus a pick next year, Wilson could be had.
Justin Fields – Well, if Chicago is going to take Caleb Williams with the first pick, that means Fields could be had for a decent price. Would Denver pay for it?
Wherever Wilson plays next year, and whatever Denver does at Quarterback, people will be looking at the trade Denver made with Seattle and saying that was a mistake. Either way, the Russ era in Denver is ending.
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