Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson may be facing an uncertain future in the NFL. Speculation about his potential departure from the team has been circulating, with several rumored destinations being discussed. However, ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck has taken it a step further, suggesting that Wilson may not even be playing in the league next season.
During a recent appearance on ESPN’s “Get Up!” morning show, Hasselbeck expressed his belief that Wilson’s time in football may be coming to an end. He cited Wilson’s age and a perceived decline in his performance as factors that could make it difficult for him to find a new team. Additionally, Hasselbeck questioned whether Wilson still possesses the leadership qualities typically expected from a veteran quarterback.
Wilson’s financial situation also adds another layer of complexity to his future. Having earned a substantial amount of money throughout his career, he is due to receive a significant salary in the coming years. This could further limit the number of potential landing spots for him, as teams may be hesitant to take on such a financial commitment.
While it remains to be seen what the future holds for Wilson, the possibility of him not playing in the NFL next season is certainly a shocking one. As the offseason progresses, all eyes will be on Wilson and the Broncos as they navigate this uncertain situation.
This is a strong take about a quarterback who the Broncos traded the Seattle Seahawks five picks (including two first-rounders) and three players for just two offseasons ago, but it goes to show just how far the 2010 Super Bowl winner has fallen during his time in Denver.
Let’s say the Broncos release Russell Wilson this offseason, and any team can sign him for next-to-nothing on the free-agent market. How could he possibly end up out of the NFL under those conditions?
Well, as Tim Hasselbeck noted, Wilson has earned an incredible amount of money in his career — $266,362,520 to date, according to Spotrac — and the Broncos will still have to pay him $39 million in cash if the team releases him, according to Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti.
With this type of bank account, it seems unlikely that Wilson will take a job as a backup for another NFL quarterback.
If that’s true, it means he must at least get a chance to compete for a starting job to stay in the league, and there are only so many options for teams that would take Wilson.
A quick look at the league’s quarterback situations, it seems as though there are three types of teams that need a quarterback in 2024, and Russell Wilson may not be a fit for any of them.
The Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders are all rebuilding and need a QB, but with the first three picks in April’s 2024 NFL Draft, it’s possible all three franchises take a college passing prospect.
With the media circus that often surrounds Wilson and the lack of leadership traits Hasselbeck mentioned, it’s unlikely these teams would sign him to help develop of top pick.
Next, there are the teams with bad quarterback situations but decent rosters. These are the most likely spots for Wilson to land. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons all fit this bill, so the question becomes where would Wilson fit best?
If these six teams pass, it gets pretty dicey from there. Still, there are a few teams that could make a move on Russ if things go awry this offseason. Maybe the New York Giants decide to jettison Daniel Jones or Kirk Cousins signs with a team other than the Minnesota Vikings. Maybe the Tennesse Titans aren’t sold on Will Levis or the New Orleans Saints find a way to lose Derek Carr without going to salary cap jail.
If any of these things happen, maybe the teams turn to Russell Wilson.
According to the Source heavy.com