The Denver Broncos have benched Russell Wilson for the remainder of the 2023 season in a move that ensures he will not be on the team in 2024. With the Broncos playoff hopes depleted, the team has decided that it’s no longer worth risking Wilson suffering a serious injury, as the Broncos would then be on the hook for a substantial amount of guaranteed money. So, seeing as the risk is no longer worth the reward, Denver will spend its final two games seeing what Jarrett Stidham can do. This is exactly what happened with Derek Carr last year, including having Stidham as the replacement, and Carr never played another snap with the Raiders.
Russell Wilson already has $39 million guaranteed for 2024, but he has an additional $37M that would become guaranteed if he can’t pass a physical by early March.
Denver’s move to sit him assures that money won’t trigger. And Denver does this at a time when Wilson is the NFL’s…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 27, 2023
It’s safe to assume that Russell Wilson will suffer a similar fate and find a new team in the offseason. While he certainly never played up to his billing with the Denver Broncos, the 2023 season proved he is still one of the best 32 quarterbacks in the league. While he’s no longer an MVP-caliber player, Wilson currently ranks 17th in both PFF grade and EPA/play. He’s certainly not worth his massive contract, but he can be a fine bridge quarterback on a smaller deal. Assuming the Broncos can’t find a trade partner, they will release him, and another team will sign the quarterback to a more modest contract to be a short-term starter.
When looking at potential Russell Wilson suitors, we need to think about the teams that might want him in the offseason. There are plenty of teams that could use an upgrade at the quarterback position, but teams with top-five picks are more likely to roll the dice on an NFL Draft prospect. So, with that in mind, we need to look at teams that don’t have a good quarterback but also don’t have a high draft pick.
4 Teams That Could Take Russell Wilson In 2024
Atlanta Falcons
If the Atlanta Falcons had a halfway decent quarterback, they would have comfortably won the NFC South this year. Instead, they tried to get by with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, and that decision will likely lead to a January golf trip for Arthur Smith and company. Russell Wilson might not be the type of quarterback that can singlehandedly elevate a team, but he’s a clear step above those two. This team has some pieces, and the right quarterback could lead this team to a postseason run in 2024. With no way to acquire a top-tier quarterback prospect in the NFL Draft, Wilson just might be the best option available.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett has only made 24 starts in his professional career, so perhaps the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t ready to give up on him. However, most of those 24 starts have been nothing short of disastrous, and the odds of him turning it around are slim. Mitchell Trubisky is not the answer, but perhaps Russell Wilson can get the job done for this team. Head coach Mike Tomlin prefers a low-volume passing attack like the one Wilson ran in Seattle, and the quarterback’s deep ball is as good as ever. Assuming George Pickens stays around, these two could turn into a lethal combination in 2024.
Las Vegas Raiders
Aidan O’Connell has played well for a rookie fifth-round pick, but he’s not going to stop the Raiders from looking for a better quarterback. Currently sitting at 7-8, Vegas probably won’t have the opportunity to draft a quarterback early, but they could use someone like Russell Wilson on the team. Davante Adams isn’t getting any younger, and the veteran would probably prefer a seasoned quarterback. Assuming Wilson doesn’t require too much money, this signing makes sense for both sides.
Minnesota Vikings
This one depends on what happens with Kirk Cousins. Prior to his Achilles injury, the longtime Vikings quarterback was playing the best football of his career. However, now that he’s a free agent and coming off a serious injury, there is a chance that the team simply decides to go in another direction. Russell Wilson will likely make less on his next contract than Cousins, so the Vikings might view the quarterback as a more cost-effective option for this cash-strapped team.
Main Photo: Ron Chenoy – USA Today Sports
