It's a move “without precedent in NFL history,” but it's a “result expected” since Russell Wilson was benched in Week 17Getty Images
The Broncos' planned release of QB Russell Wilson would account for $85M in "'dead' salary cap charges over the next two seasons," a move “without precedent in NFL history,” according to sources cited by Parker Gabriel of the DENVER POST. The previous record for dead cap absorbed for a single player was $40.525M by the Falcons when they traded QB Matt Ryan to the Colts in 2022. The Broncos will have “two options” in how they split the $85M -- either take $53M in 2024 and $32M in 2025, or split it $35.4M in 2024 and the remaining $49.6M in 2025. Despite the prospect of doubling the previous dead money record, money is “part of the reason this move has been all but settled for weeks.” The Broncos “got some relief” recently when the NFL raised the salary cap at $255.4M (DENVER POST 3/4). In Denver, Troy Renck wrote “no team has absorbed this much money for a mistake.” Broncos GM George Paton “traded four draft picks and three starters” to the Seahawks in exchange for Wilson. The trade “now serves as a cautionary tale of desperation.” Renck: “Under normal circumstances, the GM would be fired for the Wilson acquisition and contract.” However, owner Greg Penner “views the situation differently,” as Paton was “working without ownership when the deal was struck” (DENVER POST 3/4).
