Russell Wilson’s $39M Broncos Exit Set to Hurt Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields’ NFL Future

The imbalanced ties came to an end on Monday! When Russell Wilson was benched by the Denver Broncos ahead of the final two games of the season, he knew that this relationship with the side would be coming to ending terms in the offseason potentially. The problem was arguably the money concerning the injury guarantee and Wilson’s performance in the season.

However, Wilson had still expressed his hopes to be a part of the franchise some days ago. But now as the quarterback is out, he could pose a threat to the future of other QBs in the league, particularly players like Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields.

The huge trade ties came to an end!

The Broncos released Russell Wilson on Monday, just two years after they signed him in one of the most valuable trades in the league’s history. Giving him a five-year, $242.6 million deal, they wished that Wilson would get them a Super Bowl. However, things didn’t turn out as expected, and the team arguably scored below average (winning just 8 games in 2023 and 5 in 2022 seasons); newly led Sean Payton’s Broncos took this decision ahead of the 2024 season.

But as Wilson is now out, will he pose challenges to the other quarterbacks available in the market? The answer is probably a “yes!” There are a few reasons why Wilson could affect Justin Fields and Kirk Cousins’ NFL future. With his exit, Wilson can sign a $1 million deal with any team and will be a lot cheaper than the other 2 QBs.

Furthermore, he has a wealth of experience, including a Super Bowl win in 2014, and he is competing for the same 10 spots as Cousins and Fields. Hence, the future concerns.

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On the other hand, Denver will now have to pay $39 million as part of the dead cap hit for trading away Russell Wilson to another team. However, Wilson’s contract with the new team will be deducted from this amount, determining the ultimate financial impact on Denver. Additionally, by making this move, Denver will incur a dead cap hit of $85 million (the largest figure in NFL history).

What is the future of Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos?

The Broncos have consistently been attempting to solve their quarterback dilemma following the release of Russell Wilson on Monday, a decision that has proven to be financially challenging. The team has faced struggles in finding a suitable replacement for Peyton Manning, whose retirement came after winning Super Bowl 50, with each subsequent attempt to address this issue falling short and leading to shattered postseason aspirations.

Therefore, they will be in a search for a new quarterback. The most apparent choice for the Broncos is the upcoming NFL draft where they possess no. 12 pick. The draft position may eliminate the opportunity to trade top prospects like Caleb Williams and others. However, it could position them as a compelling candidate for QBs such as Michael Penix Jr. or even Bo Nix.

On the other hand, for Russell Wilson, teams such as the Steelers, Commanders, Titans, Bears, Falcons, or Patriots, could be the landing spot for the quarterback, given these teams’ reformation or quarterback needs.

Read more: “Come Home”: Seahawks Fans Invite Russell Wilson to Rejoin the Team After Broncos’ QB Shares a Five-Word Message