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Denver quarterback Russell Wilson will be looking for a new team this offseason following news of his release from the Broncos. The signal caller spent two seasons in the Mile High City, struggling to find success.
The Broncos went just 11-19 with “Mr. Unlimited” under center, leading to his benching by season’s end in Year 2. An imminent split came to fruition earlier this week.
The franchise announced its intention to part ways with the passer on Monday, not long after Wilson had expressed a desire to stay in Denver.
“I hope I get to finish [in Denver],” he said in an interview with former Bronco Brandon Marshall. “I committed there. I want to be there.”
That, unfortunately, won’t be the case.
While the project ultimately failed for Denver, who still owes the passer a boatload of money, it could be a godsend for QB-needy teams around the NFL.
Wilson is reportedly open to signing at a low price.
With Russ still landing a paycheck from his former team, he’s open to taking a pay cut in order to start elsewhere.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes:
A sense emerged that Wilson will take the league minimum elsewhere ($1.21 million) and stick the Broncos with the balance of his $39 million fully guaranteed compensation package for 2024.
However, Wilson won’t be doing that as a backup. He’ll want, in exchange for his willingness to take so little, a commitment that he’ll be the starter.
While the production wasn’t great in Denver, you can believe teams would be willing to take a flyer on a Super Bowl winning passer at a discounted rate.
Colin Cowherd believes the Steelers should sign Russell Wilson.
“I think Pittsburgh’s perfect,” he said in a recent Volume podcast. “You cannot be in a division with Joe Burrow twice a year, Kevin Stefanski and Deshaun Watson twice a year, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh twice a year with Kenny Pickett.
“I think you roll the dice with Russell Wilson. His maturity and devotion and commitment is what the Steelers need offensively. They’ve got some receivers who I really like but they’re a little young, a little immature… Their offensive line is okay, not special, and Russell Wilson is still mobile enough to avoid some of that stuff.
“I think it works… The culture and personnel in Pittsburgh is good, but they don’t have a trigger guy. In the AFC, you’re not going anywhere unless you have a star, even if it’s a declining star – you’ve got to have a star [QB] to win games.”
Cowherd believes Russ can help lead a young but talented group of Steeler receivers in a way Kenny Pickett hasn’t. He notes maturity and leadership, though there is a bit of risk considering Wilson’s ability to annoy players with his personality in the past.
That risk would be well worth the reward should Pittsburgh take a chance.
Are they ready to move on from their former first-round pick after just two seasons? Cowherd believes it’s in their best interest.