Russell Wilson dances around question on Broncos future
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Russell Wilson didn’t want to discuss his Broncos future after a 26-23 loss — which made their path to the playoffs even more difficult — to the Patriots on Sunday, but it’s a conversation that that organization will need to have soon.
The $37 million he’ll earn in 2025 becomes guaranteed on March 17, 2024, according to the Denver Post and ProFootballTalk, and Wilson’s $35.4 million cap hit in 2024 would balloon to $55.4 million in 2025.
His numbers have been underwhelming for a second consecutive season since his trade from Seattle and massive five-year, $245 million extension with the Broncos, and following their latest defeat Sunday, Denver has dropped three of its last four games to fade out of the playoff picture.
“I’m just worried about next week and playing great football,” Wilson told reporters Sunday. “I came here to win and win a championship for us and find a way to do that. Obviously, I love being here with these guys, these teammates. I’m excited to keep playing ball and playing hard for us.”
When asked about Wilson’s play against the Patriots, head coach Sean Payton complimented Wilson for “fighting” and getting them “back in it” after the Broncos trailed by 16 points entering the fourth quarter.
He then connected with Brandon Johnson and Lucas Krull for touchdowns in the fourth quarter — marking just the eighth time this season where he threw for multiple scores in a game — and had a chance to orchestrate a game-winning drive in the final two minutes.
“It’s difficult to do,” Payton said of Wilson’s comeback, “and yet, and he did it, I would say, in a timely fashion.”
But when Chad Ryland connected on a 56-yard field goal in the closing seconds to seal the Patriots’ victory, Wilson’s record dipped to 11-19 as the Broncos’ starter.
Four of those wins in 2023 required game-winning drives, too, and Denver has won just three games by 15 or more points.
Those numbers, and the latest missed postseason chance that keeps inching closer to becoming a reality, have clouded his future with the Broncos.
The Denver Post wrote in October that Wilson’s $37 million for 2025 — and how it becomes guaranteed in March — could force the Broncos to consider benching him in order to avoid a serious injury, one where he’d need to rehab and remain on the roster.
It’s unclear if Payton would even consider that move with the Broncos — mathematically — clinging to a 5 percent chance at making the playoffs, with games remaining against the Chargers and Raiders, and Wilson’s 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions have improved from 16 and 11, respectively, in 2022.
There would be other cap and contract ramifications if the Broncos opted to move on from Wilson, too.
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