The Denver Broncos just traded for Russell Wilson in the 2022 offseason, and less than two years later, it seems all but a certainty that the team is poised to move on before mid-March. Wilson came to Denver in a blockbuster deal with the Seattle Seahawks, and almost everyone expected that Wilson would have the same type of impact on the Broncos franchise that we saw from Peyton Manning back when he was acquired in 2012.
Unfortunately, things didn't go the way anyone hoped. Not even in the slightest. Things were bad enough that the Broncos not only fired former head coach Nathaniel Hackett before the end of his first season but they are also poised to take on $85 million in dead cap just to move on from Russ in 2024.
It's bizarre that things have gotten to this point, where the Broncos don't even believe that Russell Wilson is good enough to keep with a fully guaranteed $39 million salary in 2024. The complication is that the Broncos may be okay with Wilson starting in 2024, but they don't also want to pay him a guaranteed $37 million for 2025, which is triggered on March 17 if he's still on the roster.
And that leads us to where we are today: Speculating about Russell Wilson's next destination. Where is he heading this year if the Broncos move on?
1. Las Vegas Raiders
Let's look right in the division, first and foremost. If you're asking me, I think the idea that the Las Vegas Raiders should go after a quarterback like Russell Wilson is silly. Maybe I missed something, but Aidan O'Connell looked like he was good enough in 2023 to warrant another shot in 2024, especially because we're seeing some continuity on the Raiders this year with Antonio Pierce staying on as head coach.
Should the Raiders just move on from O'Connell because Russ has a chance to spite the Broncos by playing here?
I personally wouldn't even though the price tag on Wilson could be reasonable.
Nevertheless, this option has been thrown out there too many times to ignore at this point, so the Raiders are one of a variety of potential landing spots.
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2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As of right now, we really don’t know what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to do at the quarterback position.
Baker Mayfield had a really good season for them in 2023, signing for a very team-friendly deal worth $4 million. He vastly outplayed that pay grade, and will be looking for a raise in the 2024 offseason. The question isn’t whether the Bucs would want Mayfield back or whether Mayfield would want to go back to the Bucs, it’s really going to come down to how many figures and years they are willing to offer him.
Now, I say that, but fit does matter, and there is one particular reason why I think the Bucs could potentially move on from Mayfield (or maybe Mayfield will move on from the Bucs). The reason is that the Bucs lost offensive coordinator Dave Canales to their division rival Carolina Panthers, and the fit with Canales was obviously huge for Mayfield.
He should definitely keep his options open, which means the Bucs could look into going the economic route and sign Russell Wilson, who could be available for the veteran minimum (just over $1 million).
The Bucs would be able to afford to bring back Mike Evans and continue to build the roster around the QB position, and Wilson is an intriguing option as a replacement for Mayfield.
3. New York Giants
The New York Giants are one of the strangest teams in the league. They paid Daniel Jones way too much money last offseason, and now they’re kind of stuck in the bed they made. But Jones is coming off of a season-ending injury, and the Giants don’t really have the luxury of sitting around and waiting for him to become something he’s not.
Although Giants GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have no real connection to Russell Wilson, I think the fit in New York could be intriguing given the fact that Daboll has proven the can maximize talent at the quarterback position.
It might be an inexpensive way for the Giants to add a proven veteran at the position. Let’s be honest, the Tommy DeVitos of the world aren’t going to cut it for a franchise that expects to contend.
Even if Wilson would have to “compete” with Daniel Jones, this is the type of move that I think could get Giants ownership on board with a potential change at the position. Jones just isn’t a quality starter at the NFL level. I think Russell Wilson could prove to be the better option in New York, and rather comfortably at that.
Plus, you know Russ and his family would embrace the New York market.
4. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers would not be an option for Russell Wilson to potentially be “the guy” right away, so perhaps this would be a last resort kind of option.
However, I think they are intriguing for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost, Bryce Young was bad enough in 2023 that the chances of Wilson playing are actually probably pretty high.
Second, everyone who had a hand in using the #1 overall pick on Young is basically gone at this point.
The Panthers cleaned house, firing GM Scott Fitterer as well as head coach Frank Reich. The ownership in Carolina was livid seeing CJ Stroud have so much success in Houston while the Panthers sent the #1 overall pick to the Chicago Bears. I don’t think ownership would be opposed to the idea of having new head coach Dave Canales work with his old pal Russell Wilson.
The two had a very good working relationship when they were together in Seattle, and Wilson could come in and bring a familiar face for Canales to raise the floor at the position and possibly help win a relatively weak division in 2024.
5. Atlanta Falcons
Alright, let’s just finish the job with the last remaining team in the NFC South that could realistically add a quarterback this offseason: The Atlanta Falcons.
New head coach Raheem Morris is inheriting a roster that should be really attractive to potentially available quarterbacks this offseason. Offensively, the Falcons have the type of running game with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier that Wilson could really lean on.
They have big weapons in the passing game in Drake London and Kyle Pitts who could be big-time outlets for Wilson. Heck, the Falcons could even try to trade for Courtland Sutton to get yet another player that Russell Wilson has a nice rapport with in the mix offensively.
Terry Fontenot is the GM of the Atlanta Falcons, and he worked with Sean Payton in New Orleans before becoming the general manager of the Falcons. He’d be able to get some great intel on adding Russ into his organization from Payton and I think this would be a smart move from Wilson’s perspective as well.
The Falcons could be a team on the rise. They play in a very “winnable” division right now. The offense is ready-made for a QB to step in and have success, and they’re only going to add more pieces in the offseason. If I was Russ, I might be pushing to go here.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
There is simply no way that the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to stick with Kenny Pickett as their QB1 in the 2024 season. That would just be insane.
The Steelers have to realize that their QB position has held them back from potentially having some actual contenders over the last couple of years. The great defense in Pittsburgh is seemingly wasting away.
Although Russell Wilson would not be coming in and giving the Steelers another version of Ben Roethlisberger, throwing the ball all over the yard and passing for 4,500 yards, I think he would be a substantial upgrade over either Kenny Pickett or Mitchell Trubisky. We saw how much better Mason Rudolph was compared to both of those guys, and I think that tells us everything we need to know.
As of the time of this post being written, the Steelers are still contemplating who their offensive coordinator will be. That will be massive in determining whether this can be a fit for Russell Wilson, but with the defense in Pittsburgh, I think this could be a great all-around fit. The Steelers can get to the playoffs and maybe actually do something with a QB like Russ at the helm.
7. Minnesota Vikings
Ultimately, I don’t think this one is the most realistic option that has been thrown out there, but it would be given a violent shove into the realm of realism if the Vikings and Kirk Cousins can’t agree to some sort of deal.
Kirk Cousins has gone on record as saying that he’s not looking for the biggest cash offer this offseason, but a deal that’s properly structured. Whatever that means. If the Vikings and Cousins can’t agree to a deal, I don’t think there’s any way they’re just going to sit on their hands going into the 2024 NFL Draft at the QB position.
Someone like Russell Wilson could be an interesting one-year proposition for a team like the Vikings, especially given the fact that he’s not supposed to cost all that much.
The question everyone has would be whether or not Russ can work well with a coach like Kevin O’Connell. I guess on the surface, I don’t see why not. That offense in Minnesota does a great job of helping the quarterback play to his strengths, rather than the QB having to operate the offense that plays to the coach’s strengths.
Ideally, you’re looking for the best of both worlds there, but the Vikings could have one of the better groups of skill players in the league, and that would undoubtedly be attractive to Russell Wilson if (or when) he hits the market.