The Denver Broncos announced Monday that they plan to release quarterback Russell Wilson after the NFL’s new league year begins on March 13. Over the next two years, the Broncos will eat $85 million worth of “dead money” against the salary cap, marking the largest dead money hit for a single player in NFL history.
Here’s a sampling of how Twitter/X reacted to the news on Monday.
March 16, 2022: The Broncos traded for Russell Wilson.
March 4th, 2024: Broncos announce his release. #9sports https://t.co/32B4K4mH6m
— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) March 4, 2024
The pending March 13 release is a formality. It was over between the Broncos and Russ since he was benched in December. He was never coming back after that.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) March 4, 2024
O Broncos anunciou que vai cortar Russell Wilson, a decisão já vale para o dia 13/03 quando se inicia a janela de transferências da NFL. pic.twitter.com/ZKPdkuJYvk
— Mile High Brasil (@MileHighBrasil) March 4, 2024
The end of a massively disappointing two seasons. Really wanted this to work but this ended up being one of the worst trades and contracts ever. Good luck to Wilson. Now the #Broncos look to finally get their QB. https://t.co/AjADTfSkuB
— Ian St. Clair (@IanStClair) March 4, 2024
Broncos have notified QB Russell Wilson he will be released after new league year begins Wednesday, March 13. Closure to worst transaction in Broncos history. #9sports
— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) March 4, 2024
Now official: Russell Wilson will not actually play a snap for the #Broncos on the five-year extension he signed in 2022.
That deal covered 2024-28.
— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) March 4, 2024
Life Goals https://t.co/q1OJLsk8cm
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) March 4, 2024
The Denver Broncos paid Russell Wilson $122 million for two years of work.
$85 million of that money has not been accounted for in the salary cap yet. Denver has two options:
1. Eat the full $85 million in 2024
2. Split the dead money between 2024 ($35.4m) and 2025 ($49.6m)— Henry Chisholm (@HenryChisholm) March 4, 2024
Releasing Russell Wilson after the league year begins March 13 allows them to spread the cap hit over two years if they want.
Either way, they owe Wilson $39 million fully guaranteed this year, minus the (likely minimum) salary he could get from a new team.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 4, 2024
If the Broncos had kept Russell Wilson for 2024, they would have guaranteed his 2025 salary of $37 million.
In other words, the Broncos could have kept Wilson for two more seasons at a net cost of $18.5 million per year versus released him.
— Henry Chisholm (@HenryChisholm) March 4, 2024
Russell Wilson's time with the Broncos:
11-19 record
6,594 passing yards
63.3% completion
42 passing TDs
19 INTs
90.9 passer rating— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) March 4, 2024
Using a GIF, how would you summarize the Russell Wilson era?
Here’s mine. Let’s ride, indeed: pic.twitter.com/MkjCqcoIDz
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) March 4, 2024
Also, my theory proved correct. The Broncos waited until AFTER the NFL Combine because they simply did not want to talk about it. Nothing more to say.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) March 4, 2024
And Wilson moves to head of class for possible induction into Business of Football Hall of Fame.. https://t.co/ZUk9u5XZym
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) March 4, 2024
Best of luck to Russell Wilson!
Really interested to see where he lands next. Has some left in the tank but his unique skillset makes the landing spot tough to predict.
— Joey Richards (@JRDrafts) March 4, 2024
Thank You Broncos Country 🙏🏾 – #3 pic.twitter.com/3IoVheYVyI
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 4, 2024
Russell Wilson thanks many teammates and Broncos support staff in his goodbye letter. He does not mention his coaches or the front office pic.twitter.com/ktVA62TKtW
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) March 4, 2024
can make a case that the Russell Wilson trade was the worst in NFL history when all the assets/finances takent into account. But fear not, the Deshaun Watson trade will wind up worse!
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) March 4, 2024
My opinion: Russell Wilson will be a backup going forward.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 4, 2024
At the pinnacle of his career with the Seahawks, @DangeRussWilson played the position as well as anyone in the league. The failure in Denver was not his fault alone. He’s still a very capable player in my opinion. https://t.co/89gyDPi4HU
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) March 4, 2024
If any team needs a starting quarterback on a rookie contract, it is now the #Broncos. https://t.co/YUIgzB8yAl
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) March 4, 2024
So weird to see people using this as an opportunity to shit on Russell Wilson as a person. He was a pro his entire time here and had a chance to completely air things out after he was threatened to be benched and chose not to. I have nothing but respect for him.
— Robby (@Robby_NFL) March 4, 2024
Thank you for who you’ve been as a model person and role model for a younger generation. Wish you nothing but the best Russ! https://t.co/wbFwFiDXWQ
— 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 (@CameronParkerPO) March 4, 2024
The Russell Wilson era is officially over
We’re now on the dead cap era
— Sofía Ramírez (@Sofia_RamirezG) March 4, 2024
— T (@TimContic) March 4, 2024
The Broncos will now search for Wilson’s replacement. Denver will likely look to the free agent market, and the team also holds the 12th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft. Expect the Broncos to add at least one QB to the roster this offseason.
