Russell Wilson

The contract that GM George Paton gave to Russell Wilson in late August makes the cap consequences for cutting him after the first year of the new deal untenable. Without a post-June 1 designation, the Broncos would take a $107 million cap charge by cutting Wilson this year. With a post-June 1 designation, the Broncos would carry $22 million in Wilson’s name this year, and $85 million in 2024.

Obviously the best-case would be to fix the Wilson and the offense. But getting rid of Wilson gets a little easier after the 2023 season. The story went on to say: a post-June 1 designation in 2024 would result in a $35.4 million cap charge that year, with $49.6 million carried over to 2025. Here’s another reason to do it in early 2024. If Wilson is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2024 league year, $37 million in 2025 salary becomes fully guaranteed. Wilson already has received $57 million for 2022. He has another $67 million in fully-guaranteed payments over the next two years. A trade would result in a lower cap charge, by foisting the remaining guarantees onto a new team. But who in their right mind would take on Wilson at $67 million over two years, and $104 million over three.