The Denver Broncos are on a quest to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season (2016 playoffs). It’s been a wild ride with so much turnover. Let me put it this way: From the Super Bowl season, just one player on that team is currently with the team. That would be kicker Brandon McManus. That season, the Broncos had Peyton Manning at quarterback, who took up $17.5 million against the cap.
If you ask anybody—literally anybody—they would tell you that having Manning at that cap number was worth it. Maybe even a bargain. In fact, Manning at that cap number was cheaper than the team’s current quarterback Russell Wilson.
For a team that has had as many struggling seasons as they have as of late, the Denver Broncos have several players who will have a high cap number for the 2023 season. It’s unfortunate, but hopefully something big will happen in 2023 and the team can make it to the playoffs, making these cap numbers worth their while.
Denver Broncos biggest salary cap hits in 2023
Russell Wilson, QB: $22 million
Unfortunately, the Denver Broncos did not get enough out of Russell Wilson in his first season with the team last year. It was an extremely underwhelming season for the future Hall of Fame quarterback in orange and blue. Of course, I think that there was more to it than some believe. The offensive line needs a massive overhaul and the connection between Wilson and his receivers needs to improve.
It would also help if we had a coach that knew what he was doing. That might actually be the case with Sean Payton leading the way.
There will need to be questions answered in 2023: Was 2022 a fluke? Can Sean Payton and Davis Webb get Wilson back to where he once was? How about the offensive line? Is it going to be better with some new additions?
Something else to monitor is Wilson’s health going forward. Through ten years with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson stayed relatively healthy until his final year with the team. Even still, the finger injury he sustained wasn’t a huge deal. Unfortunately, when he arrived to the Broncos, he had several different injuries during the season.