A significant piece of news has recently come out of the Denver football team, shaking things up quite a bit. Russell Wilson, a player many people knew well, is no longer with the group. This choice has a lot of folks talking, and it means some truly big changes for the team as they look ahead to what comes next.
The choice, made public just as the new football year is about to get going, brings with it some very large financial impacts for the team, meaning they'll be dealing with a lot of money tied up from his past agreement. This is, you know, a pretty big deal for how they plan things out.
Many are wondering what this all means for the team's next steps, especially when it comes to who will be leading their plays on the field. They are, in a way, trying to figure out how they will build a strong group of players for the upcoming season and beyond, so this move has many layers to it.
Table of Contents
- Russell Wilson - A Brief Look at His Time
- Russell Wilson - Key Details
- Why Did the Broncos Cut Wilson?
- What Does This Mean for the Broncos' Money Situation?
- How Does the Broncos Cut Wilson Affect Future Plans?
- Who Will Lead the Broncos After Wilson?
- When Did the Broncos Cut Wilson Officially?
- What Comes Next for the Broncos?
Russell Wilson - A Brief Look at His Time
Russell Wilson came to Denver with a lot of hope and a big contract, too it's almost. He was meant to be the person who would help the team reach new heights. Over his time there, he started 30 games across two seasons, trying to make a real difference for the team. His first season, in 2022, was a bit of a struggle, with many saying he had a rough go of it on the field.
However, in 2023, Wilson showed signs of a turnaround, seemingly getting better at nearly everything he did. He started 15 games for the Denver team, completing 297 of 447 passes, which is about 66.4 percent of his throws. He also threw for 3,070 yards and got 26 touchdowns that year. Looking at his entire time with the team, he tossed 42 touchdowns and had 19 times where the other team caught his passes. This rebound in his last year was, in some respects, something many noticed. Despite these improvements, the team still decided to go in a different direction, making the move to cut Wilson.
Russell Wilson - Key Details
When talking about Russell Wilson and his time with the Denver team, a few simple facts stand out. These details help to paint a picture of the player at the center of this big change.
| Age at time of cut | 35 years old |
This age, you know, often brings a lot of experience to the playing field, but it also signals a different point in a player's career. The team's choice to move on from a player of his experience level shows just how much they wanted to make a change for their future.
Why Did the Broncos Cut Wilson?
The main reason the Denver team gave for letting go of Russell Wilson was a clear focus on what they want to build for the future. They stated they are truly set on putting together the strongest team they can for the 2024 season and for all the years that come after that. This suggests a long-term plan, rather than a short-term fix. The choice to cut Wilson, even with the very large financial costs involved, shows how determined they are to follow this path.
Even though Wilson showed some better play in his last season, as I was saying, it seems the team felt a change was needed to move toward their larger goal. The decision to make this move now, before the new league year truly gets going, points to a clear strategy from the team's leaders. It was, in a way, a choice made with a strong eye on shaping the team's identity for the seasons ahead. The general manager, George Paton, and the coaching staff are looking at the big picture, aiming to create a group of players that can compete at the highest levels.
What Does This Mean for the Broncos' Money Situation?
The choice to cut Wilson has a very, very big impact on the team's money situation. His past deal carries what's called "dead money charges" over the next two years, and these charges are quite massive. This means that a lot of money is tied up, and the team can't use it to bring in new players or keep others. There's really no way around this, so that is money that simply cannot be spent on the people who play the game.
Specifically, the decision to let go of Wilson now will cost the Denver team an amount that sets a record for the league: $85 million in dead cap money. This money will be spread out across both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Even a full calendar year after his release, Russell Wilson will still be taking up a noticeable amount of space on the team's salary cap. This financial weight means the team has less room to make big moves in the player market, which could make building that "strongest team possible" a bit more of a puzzle, you know.
How Does the Broncos Cut Wilson Affect Future Plans?
The move to cut Wilson truly shapes the team's plans for what's to come. As the team itself said, their focus is on building the strongest possible group of players for the 2024 season and beyond. This means they are likely looking at all their options to bring in new talent and to develop the players they already have. The large amount of money tied up from Wilson's past deal means they have to be very smart and careful with every single choice they make about who plays for them.
This choice also opens up a spot for a new leader on the field, which is a very big part of any football team's future. They will need to find someone who fits the system and can help the team win games. It's almost like starting a new chapter, where every decision, from who they pick in the draft to who they sign from other teams, is looked at through the lens of this new path they are on. This is, in some respects, a complete shift in how they approach team building.
Who Will Lead the Broncos After Wilson?
With Russell Wilson no longer part of the team, the question of who will be the main person calling plays on the field becomes a very important one. The team has several players who could step into this role. Names like Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson are now being talked about for this position. This is, you know, a pretty interesting situation for the team's coaching staff and general manager.
Early on, there was some talk that Zach Wilson might not make the team's final roster. However, that thinking seems to have changed. The general manager, George Paton, has even said that he believes Zach Wilson has the qualities needed to be a starting player. After the team made its final choices for the 53-player roster, Paton spoke with the local reporters about these very decisions. The team actually decided to keep three players for this key position in their final roster cuts, which shows they are exploring different options.
When Did the Broncos Cut Wilson Officially?
The official word about Russell Wilson's release came out at a specific time, making it clear when this big change was going to happen. The team made their official statement just minutes after a well-known football reporter, Ian Rapoport, shared the news. This suggests that the information was ready to go, and the team wanted to confirm it quickly.
The Denver team officially said they intended to let go of Russell Wilson once the new football league year truly begins. That date is set for March 13. So, while the news broke earlier, the actual separation was set for that specific time. The Denver team on a Monday told Russell Wilson that he would be released at the start of that new league year. This timing is, in a way, a common practice for such big moves in the sport, allowing teams to prepare for the financial and roster changes that come with it.
What Comes Next for the Broncos?
Looking ahead, the Denver team has a clear path they want to follow. They are, as they put it, focused on putting together the strongest possible group of players for the 2024 season and for all the years that come after. This means a lot of work will be put into scouting new players, making smart choices in the yearly player selection event, and developing the talent they already have. The financial situation with the dead money from Wilson's past deal will certainly influence how they approach these tasks, making every choice about who plays for them very important.
The team's leadership will be working to create a new identity for the group, one that they believe will bring them success on the field. This includes finding a new person to lead the offense and building a team that works well together. It's a fresh start in many ways, with the aim of creating a competitive and winning group for their supporters. They are, you know, truly looking to build something lasting.
