Broncos QB's $107 million dead cap hit has NFL fans wishing he leaves the sport

"Russell Wilson should do the honorable thing and just retire" - Broncos QB's $107 million dead cap hit has NFL fans wishing he leaves the sport

By Bethany Cohen

Modified Nov 29, 2022 18:22 GMT

Denver Broncos v Carolina Panthers — Quarterback Russell Wilson's first season with the Denver Broncos has not been what he or the team expected.

When the Denver Broncos traded for quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks, they did so with the belief they had their 'missing piece.' After a 23-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the Broncos are now 3-8 on the season. They have scored the fewest number of points in team history, and frustration continues to boil over as teammates shed their angst onto Wilson.

Rumors have swirled that the team would consider releasing Wilson, which would be an expensive move for the Broncos. They have already lost their first-round draft picks and would also lose significant salary cap space.

If the Broncos release Wilson after this season, they will have $107 million in dead salary cap space. Although it will decrease each season, releasing him will be quite an expense.

Fans on Twitter expressed their opinion on the quarterback's situation. Many were shocked that his contract would cause over $100 million in dead cap space. Many called for him to retire from the National Football League and do the Broncos a favor. While that is unlikely for the 34-year-old quarterback to do, he will need to get back in the good graces of his teammates and string together a couple of wins before the end of the season.

How much is QB Russell Wilson's contract worth?

The Denver Broncos traded for quarterback Russell Wilson in exchange for two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, and defensive lineman Shelby Harris.

Along with that haul, the Broncos also signed Russell Wilson to a five-year, $245 million contract extension. In 2019, he signed a four-year contract extension with the Seahawks that was worth $140 million.

With the amount of money the quarterback's contract is worth and the damage it can cause to the Broncos' salary cap space, it's unlikely he will go anywhere anytime soon. But the Broncos could see the 2023 NFL season as a guide of whether they plan on keeping him the following season. To prevent a big hit to the salary cap, the team could convert his salary into a bonus that would pay him outright at the time.

The Broncos will have a lot of decisions to make in the coming months as they try to recover from this season's disastrous turn.

About the author

Bethany Cohen is an NFL writer at Sportskeeda, with a rich prior 15-year experience in the sports writing industry, primarily covering the MLB and MiLB. She majored in Communications from the University of South Florida and has previously worked for top companies such as Examiner.com and Legends on Deck.

Bethany owes her NFL allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers owing to their long-standing tradition and competitiveness. She is a fan of old stalwarts such as Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris and would love to watch them in the 1970s if she manages to get her hand on a time machine. She also acknowledges the greatness of modern icons like T.J. Watt for his desire to continuously improve despite being on top. She admires coaches Mike Tomlin and Andy Reid for their longevity and success.

The ace reporter credits her knowledge and love for the sport to be her biggest reporting strengths. Prior fact-checking is a big component of her process and she always scours through additional sources to ensure complete accuracy in her content.

Super Bowl XLIII, when the Steelers won the the grand prize after Santonio Holmes’ epic catch in the end zone with just seconds left on the clock is etched in Bethany’s memory forever. When she is free of her professional commitments, she likes to attend sports events and music concerts.

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