NFL Exec on Russell Wilson Benching: Sean Payton, Broncos QB 'Like Oil and Water'

The Sean Payton and Russell Wilson partnership might have been fated to end poorly.

Many viewed Wilson's midseason benching as a financially driven decision. By making the move, the Denver Broncos were removing any chance of him triggering $37 million in injury guarantees for 2025.

While the money was almost certainly one factor, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler outlined Tuesday how Payton had plenty of football-related reasons in his mind to justify the demotion.

Fowler cited one AFC personnel official who said Payton "never liked him as the guy from Day 1 and went out of his way to make that known." He also wrote how "Payton prefers a timing-and-rhythm thrower that plays the position more predictably," which has never been Wilson's style.

"That's why it feels like the benching of Wilson was more of a football decision than a business decision," one NFC executive said to Fowler. "Wilson and Payton were like oil and water."

Another AFC exec told Fowler that Payton "wanted his own guy at QB."

"His system is very extensive and usually takes years before a QB is truly comfortable," the official said.

Wilson played reasonably well before making way for Jarrett Stidham. In 15 starts, he threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 50.9 QBR was 21st in the NFL, a noticeable jump from his 27th-place finish (38.7) in 2022.

The 35-year-old is no longer at his peak and isn't aging as gracefully as some of his contemporaries. But his outlook now isn't as dire as it was after his first season with the Broncos.

That's going to put a lot of pressure on Payton this offseason if the Broncos wind up with a different starting quarterback in 2024. It's one thing to struggle or fall short of expectations with a QB you inherited; Payton won't be able to pass the buck if the same thing happens in 2024 after he hand-picks a new signal-caller.