Russell Wilson contract breakdown: 5 most important details to know
Russell Wilson contract helps other star NFL quarterbacks
As many major QB contracts as we saw in the 2022 offseason, there are still many more yet to be done. As of right now, players like former league MVP Lamar Jackson, former top pick Joe Burrow, and Broncos rival Justin Herbert will all be needing new contracts in the very near future. Depending on how things work out at their new stops, players like Baker Mayfield could even be included on that list.
At least for the top-tier QBs in line for new deals, this contract from Wilson helps push the ball forward in terms of total money, average annual value, and total guarantees. Besides Deshaun Watson’s egregious $230 million in guaranteed money — the most in NFL history — Russell Wilson’s $165 million in total guaranteed money (per Over The Cap) is an impressive second place.
New quarterback contracts struck over the next year will likely look at Wilson’s new figures as a base to start from, and the AAV will climb into the $50 million per year range on a regular basis. In terms of total guaranteed money, Wilson’s deal continues to help other quarterbacks start with a minimum of $160 million in total guarantees as well as over $120 million in practical guarantees.
Quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert will be able to go to the negotiating table with plenty of high starting points for their new deals.
Russell Wilson deal brings peace of mind for Broncos Country
Now, Broncos Country can truly say along with Russell Wilson: Let’s Ride.
This contract is months in the making but a long time coming in terms of years waited for a solution in the post-Peyton Manning era. Having Wilson leading the team from the quarterback position gives the franchise and fan base peace of mind, which is truly priceless in terms of the football side of things.
The Broncos have the richest owners in the entire NFL and the team was bought for a whopping $4.65 billion. What’s another $296 million? This deal being struck so quickly after ownership was finalized indicates that owner/CEO Greg Penner and the group are completely on board with the people in charge of making football decisions, namely GM George Paton.
Having an ownership group with such deep pockets is now a luxury that Broncos fans are completely new to in an era of football where the salary cap can be manipulated if your owner has a lot of cash on hand, which the Denver Broncos now do. There is no need to fret over the future salary cap implications of this deal, the cap can be manipulated (not to mention, it will continually rise or eventually be eliminated).
The only thing that matters at this point is that the Broncos have a quarterback under contract for the next seven years that was worthy of the biggest deal in franchise history, and arguably the second-largest deal in NFL history. Let’s ride, indeed.