When the Denver Broncos acquired quarterback Russell Wilson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, it cost the team three players and five draft picks in a blockbuster deal.
As bad as that trade compensation looks in hindsight, the team’s next move was an even bigger blunder.
Before he even played a down in Denver, the Broncos gave Wilson a five-year, $245 million contract extension. He still had two years left on his existing contract, but with a no-trade clause, Wilson was able to demand a new contract from his next club during trade talks in 2022.
Denver likely had an unofficial agreement with Wilson’s agent that the QB would get an extension from the team after the trade went through. After the trade, Wilson ended up playing two seasons with the Broncos before getting released.
Denver is now set to part with Wilson before his five-year extension kicks in, and it will be a costly decision. Over the next two years, the Broncos will eat $85 million in “dead money” — money that has been or will be paid to Wilson even though he’s no longer on the team.
That marks the biggest dead money cap hit for a single player in NFL history, more than double the previous records held by Matt Ryan ($40.53 million) and Aaron Rodgers ($40.31 million).
Two largest dead money hits in NFL history until today:
Matt Ryan – $40.525 million
Aaron Rodgers – $40.313 millionThe two combined are still lower than Russell Wilson's $85 million dead money hit with the #Broncos.
— Wendell Ferreira (@wendellfp) March 4, 2024
Denver just willing to take 85 million of dead money cause they don’t like Russell Wilson is just insane to me
— 🦉 🏁 (@CalledMe_Buskey) March 4, 2024
The Broncos opting to have 85 million in dead money just to make sure Russell Wilson isn’t their QB is wild
— Jayden (@JaydenDat) March 4, 2024
The Broncos are EATING $85M in dead money, so Russell Wilson doesn’t have to play QB for them. #ouch
— Rick Heidrick (@rheidrick24) March 4, 2024
The Broncos will eat $85 million in dead money to let Russell Wilson walk, more than the previous top 2 totals COMBINED.
The Red Sox ate roughly $48.65 of Pablo Sandoval's contract.
The Mets ate around $37.6 million of Robinson Cano's deal.
Is today a new high, across sports?— M@ (@MattSpiegel670) March 4, 2024
Broncos are taking a $85M dead money hit for cutting Russell Wilson #Ouchx85000000
— ♛ Edward Carver ♛ (@EdwardForTheWin) March 4, 2024
Not shocked at all about the Russell Wilson news. That’s a lot of dead money that the Broncos are eating. Makes you really think…🤔
— RollinWithMahomes© (@MishLGee_xoxo) March 4, 2024
Could somebody explain to me why not one, but two different teams have taken big dead money hits to get Russell Wilson out of their facilities? Can he not play any more?
— Dave Scarangella (@DaveScarangella) March 4, 2024
$85M to eat is really insane! Russell Wilson would’ve had to just play another year cause no way I’m taking in that dead money especially when he’s not that bad. He can start in the NFL https://t.co/4QhNchUJrs
— More Life 🙏🏽 (@PJ_More_Muscle) March 4, 2024
That Russell Wilson trade by Denver, has to be one of the worst trades ever. 2 years later he's cut and a dead money cap hit of $85 Mil. Seattle won that trade! #NFL
— Ryan Thomas (@ryanthomastake) March 4, 2024
Trading for Wilson was a mistake. Giving him a massive contract made it even worse.
