The Broncos and Russell Wilson: A Financial Nightmare They Can’t Shake Off

Alright, Broncos fans, it’s time to face the music. We all know the story by now—2023, Sean Payton benched Russell Wilson with just two games left in the season. It was a tough move, but one that felt more like a breakup than a football decision. A move that screamed, “I’d rather pay you to leave” than continue the charade. And while the Broncos have been trying to move on, the financial burden of Wilson’s contract still haunts them. The $85 million price tag is a ghost that just won’t go away.

As the 2025 season nears, the bill is still due, and it’s impacting the Broncos’ salary cap situation in a big way. The team is doing its best to clean up the mess left behind, but as Coach Payton puts it, “We knew what we were walking into. Fixing it? That takes time.” Well, fans are hoping that time is now.

Strategic Spending Amid a Tight Cap Situation

The Broncos are putting their finances under a microscope, making every penny count as they look to build a competitive team for the 2025 season. According to Zac Stevens, the beat reporter for the Broncos, here’s how the team’s 2025 cap hits are shaping up for new signings: DJ Jones: $6.6M, Dre Greenlaw: $5.8M, Talanoa Hufanga: $3.4M, Evan Engram: $5.96M, and Trent Sherfield: $2.4M. The total for these new contracts is a reasonable $24.16 million— a far cry from the massive amounts they’ve been paying out in the past.

And it seems like fans are happy with the approach. One fan simply commented, “Love it,” while another said, “We cooked in free agency.” But the fan who really took the cake wrote, “I do all my shopping at Walmart.” That’s right— if the Broncos keep picking up players in free agency at these affordable rates, they might as well start shopping in bulk.

Russell Wilson: The $245 Million Regret

So how did it get this bad? The root of the Broncos’ financial troubles goes back to their 2022 deal with Russell Wilson. It wasn’t just about signing the quarterback; the Broncos essentially gave up their future. Along with the $242.6 million deal they handed Wilson, they sent five draft picks and three key players to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for their franchise QB.

And what did the Seahawks do with those picks? They used them wisely. They selected offensive tackle Charles Cross, edge rusher Boye Mafe, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and running back Zach Charbonnet— each of whom has shown strong promise. Meanwhile, the Broncos got Wilson’s struggles and a massive dead cap hit, which remains the largest in NFL history. The Broncos’ 11-19 record and one of the league’s worst offenses were a far cry from the championship aspirations they had in mind when they made the trade.

The Silver Lining

But here’s where things are starting to look up. Despite the lingering $32 million cap hit for 2025, the Broncos have made strategic moves to recover. With smart free-agent signings and a clear commitment to sustainable spending, Sean Payton is building a team that can compete without bleeding the bank. The financial damage of the Russell Wilson deal won’t disappear overnight, but the Broncos are making calculated moves that could put them back on track for the future.

In the end, it’s clear the Broncos will be paying for their past mistakes for a while. But at least now, they’re making more responsible choices for the future— something fans can finally get behind as they watch Payton clean up the financial mess left in the wake of the Wilson debacle.