NFL Exec Explains Russell Wilson Trade Scenario amid Broncos Contract Rumors

The Denver Broncos are widely expected to release Russell Wilson and take on a record dead cap hit of $85 million, but one NFL agent has an idea of how the team can get out of at least some of the money owed to the embattled quarterback.

The agent told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that the Broncos could offer teams draft compensation to take on part of the $39 million in guarantees owed to Wilson for next season.

The most recent example of such a trade was the Houston Texans sending a 2018 second-round pick and a 2017 sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns as part of a deal to get out from under Brock Osweiler's contract. The deal was essentially unprecedented at the time and has not been replicated since.

Fowler noted the Broncos could shy away from trading Wilson to avoid setting a precedent. Wilson also has a no-trade clause in his contract, which few around the league expect him to waive with the potential for free agency looming.

"I don't think he'll do Denver any favors," a salary cap expert told Fowler. "Why would he? He can wait this out and essentially pick his new team with a golden parachute coming."

The Broncos benched Wilson in favor of Jarrett Stidham for the final two games of the regular season, a move that most view as the beginning of the end for Wilson in Denver. Wilson told reporters after his benching that the team came to him earlier in the 2023 campaign asking him to give up the guarantees in his contract or risk being benched.

"They definitely told me I was going to be benched and all that," Wilson said. "That whole bye week I didn't know what was going to be the case. I was going to be ready to play, I wanted to go to Buffalo and beat Buffalo [Nov. 13]. ... I wasn't going to remove the injury guarantee, this game is such a physical game, I've played 12 years and all that.

"I want to be able to play, I want to be able to help this team win. ... I know every time I step on the field it's a physical game. I never play timid; I never play scared."

The NFLPA reportedly the Broncos that threatening to bench Wilson over his guaranteed money was a violation of the league's collective bargaining agreement. Broncos coach Sean Payton maintained his decision to bench Wilson was only football-related.

As it stands, the Broncos appear prepared to pay a hefty price for Wilson to no longer be their quarterback.