A segment on the morning show “Get Up” presented a hypothetical scenario in which the NFL locker room becomes incredibly chaotic, causing distress to even think about. The discussion revolved around potential landing spots for Russell Wilson if he were to be released by the Denver Broncos. Releasing Wilson before June 1 would result in a significant financial burden for Denver, with $85 million in dead cap and a $49.6 million cap hit. Former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum suggested that Wilson would be a great fit for the Jets and proposed paying him a salary of $1 million to revive his career. However, Tannenbaum’s suggestion was met with disapproval and laughter from the rest of the panel.
Tannenbaum further explained his point by referencing a past experience with Vinny Testaverde, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens. The Jets signed Testaverde in June, and that year they made it to the championship game. It should be noted, though, that Testaverde’s signing was only necessary because the Jets lacked a competent quarterback. Neil O’Donnell had lost his starting position to Glenn Foley, and head coach Bill Parcells decided to release O’Donnell. Foley, as the “winner” of the starting role, only managed to win one out of two games in 1997 and lost the first two games of the 1998 season. Testaverde, who was passed over by Baltimore in favor of Jim Harbaugh, ended up working with Keyshawn Johnson and benefited from a strong defense led by Parcells and Bill Belichick, which ranked fourth in the league in DVOA that year. Without the last-minute addition of Testaverde, the Jets would have resembled most of their teams in the 21st century – possessing a great defense, talented skill players, but lacking a reliable quarterback.
When challenged by the co-hosts, Tannenbaum defended his hypothetical scenario, emphasizing that Wilson needs to revive his career and that sitting behind one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time for a year could be beneficial before becoming a free agent again. However, the co-hosts did not respond favorably to Tannenbaum’s suggestion. One of them muttered that they could provide 50 reasons why it wouldn’t work, while another compared the situation to a chaotic reality TV show. Harry Douglas jokingly expressed his frustration by saying that Tannenbaum’s comments made him want to go downstairs and take a shot of tequila. Dan Graziano’s expression showed nothing but contempt for Tannenbaum’s argument.
Tannenbaum’s point holds some truth – if Wilson were to be released by Denver, it would be challenging for him to secure a starting position elsewhere. With the NFL free agency period only a month away, there are limited opportunities available. Teams like Washington, New England, Atlanta, Minnesota, Chicago, and Pittsburgh seem to be the most likely options. However, at least half of those teams are expected to fill their quarterback positions through the upcoming draft. Additionally, Minnesota may not be interested in another veteran quarterback, while Atlanta and Pittsburgh could go in either direction.
What sets these teams apart is that none of them currently have over $100 million allocated to their quarterback position. Furthermore, all that money is tied up in one of the league’s most difficult and demanding quarterbacks – Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is under contract with the Jets until next year, and if he were to be released, the Jets would face a $63 million cap hit in 2026. Wilson would also reunite with his former Broncos head coach, Nathaniel Hackett, who is currently the Jets’ offensive coordinator. However, their previous collaboration was not successful, as Hackett became one of the few NFL coaches since 1970 to be fired before completing his first season.
Realistically, Rodgers will remain the Jets’ starting quarterback until he decides to retire. If relying on a 41-year-old quarterback recovering from an Achilles injury seems too risky, the 2023 season demonstrated that backup quarterbacks can be surprisingly effective. Players like Joe Flacco, Joshua Dobbs, Gardner Minshew, Tyrod Taylor, Tommy DeVito, Andy Dalton, and Jake Browning all achieved victories when called upon. The previous year, Jacoby Brissett and Tyler Huntley also performed well, with Brissett even outperforming the starting quarterback.
Bringing in another quarterback with a personality as strong as Rodgers’ would not be a wise move for building a stable roster. This was evident when Douglas refused to acquire a backup option during last season’s trade deadline. The Jets have hopefully learned from that experience and understand the importance of having a reliable backup. However, the team is desperate for stability after enduring a tumultuous 2023 season. Garrett Wilson described it as the worst year of his life, and an anonymous Jets coach referred to the team’s period of incompetence as a complete disaster. Adding Wilson to this already chaotic situation would not only be redundant but would push the team beyond its breaking point.
According to the Source deadspin.com