NFL
By Keith Richards
The 2023-24 Denver Broncos season ends like the last few seasons have ended for the team and its fans. It’s an unhealthy mixture of pain, despair, and constant, never-ceasing disappointment. The 2023-24 Broncos season had its peaks and valleys. So, where do the Broncos go from here?
Heading into the offseason, the Denver Broncos have much to figure out before they begin next season. With this in mind, I discuss what I think are the top two questions for the Denver Broncos heading into next season.
To Russ or Not to Russ?
You don’t have to be a fan of the Denver Broncos to know that the quarterback situation with the team was the most notable story about the Broncos all season. Needless to say, that is not a good thing. Though I had high hopes that the marriage of Sean Payton and Russell Wilson would be bliss, it quickly headed straight for annulment.
After losing three out of four games following a winning streak, head coach Sean Payton decided to bench Russell Wilson and start Jared Stidham. With the Denver Broncos still in playoff contention at the time, Payton stated, “I understand all the speculation and everything that surrounds a move like that. I can tell you – look, we’re desperately trying to win.” That’s just where the drama began.
Shortly after the decision to bench Wilson was made, it was revealed that after the team’s streak-breaking win over the Chiefs at the end of October Russell Wilson was approached about changing the language/timing of the guarantee what would be triggered if Wilson was not able to pass a physical by March. If Russ were to get injured, Denver would be on the hook for $37 million in guaranteed salary to the quarterback.
Here’s where it truly gets messy. When the Broncos beat Kansas City, their record improved to 3-5. So, technically speaking, if the team wanted to provide a spark, one would think Wilson would be benched then and there. That was not the case. The Denver Broncos would go on to win four out of the next five games; improving their record to 7-6.
As stated above, Denver would then go on to lose three out of four after that. So, who do you believe here? One party states that Russ was benched to add a spark to the team. The other party states that Wilson was benched because the team feared being tied to the $37 million the team would owe him if Russell got injured.
The truth to this story is not a black-or-white issue. The answer lies within shades of gray. After the Denver Broncos regressed after the win streak, a spark was needed to try and make the playoffs. However, that spark was never going to come in the form of Jared Stidham.
Sean Payton never wanted Russell Wilson. Once it became clear that the Broncos were unlikely to make the playoffs, the team made a business decision to bench Russell Wilson. With only two games remaining in the season, they could not risk an injury to the quarterback and be financially strapped to him next season.
It would throw their cap into chaos. Wilson staying healthy means the team has flexibility while the Denver Broncos decide if he will be a part of their future or not. Now, one may think that Wilson’s departure is a foregone conclusion. According to the head coach and the front office, Russ’ future with the team has not been decided.
Sean Payton stated that he met with Russell Wilson on Monday to discuss various topics. One of the topics that was discussed was a scenario where Wilson would still be the starting quarterback of the team. So, after all the drama, there is still a chance Russ will be the starting quarter for the Denver Broncos to start the 2024-25 season.
It’s a tough decision for the team to make. If the Denver Broncos do decide to cut ties with Wilson, they’re practically in financial ruin for the next two seasons. The dead cap hit would be $35.4 million in 2024 and $49.6 million in 2025; a total of $85 million. If they decide to stick with Wilson, they’re stuck with a quarterback not performing to his level of pay.
Many arguments can be made for and against who is at fault for the failed tenure of Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos. Again, the answers lie in areas of gray. Wilson has not performed to the level that was expected of him. That said, the Denver Broncos haven’t put Russell in a position to win either.
To Russ or not to Russ? That is the question for Denver. Whatever path they take, there will more hardships ahead as they either pick up the pieces of a failed relationship or go through marriage counseling to try and make it all work.
The Wide Receiver Position is an Issue
Another hot topic of debate is the performance of the wide receivers. On one hand, there is the belief that the receivers have struggled due to insufficient quarterback play. On the other hand, there is the belief that the receivers, namely Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, are just not good enough.
For the fourth straight season, the Denver Broncos failed to produce a thousand-yard receiver. Courtland Sutton was the last to accomplish that feat in 2019. There is truth to the belief that the receivers have suffered from poor quarterback play, which includes Russell Wilson to an extent. That being said, at what point is it that the receivers need to accept responsibility and take some of the heat for their play? Maybe it’s them who are not good enough.
Puka Nacua, a fifth-round pick rookie, amassed 1,486 yards receiving. Davante Adams had 1,144 yards receiving with inconsistent quarterback play all season. DeAndre Hopkins and Justin Jefferson, both playing with backup quarterbacks for a significant portion of the season, managed over 1,000 yards receiving this season. So, it’s time to stop coddling these receivers.
While it doesn’t help that Tim Patrick has not played a game in two seasons due to injury, it’s still time to move on from Jerry Jeudy. First, there are worthy receivers available in the draft. If the team decides not to draft a quarterback at 12, they have a wide selection of receivers to choose from. Second, the list of free-agent wide receivers in 2024 includes the following:
- Mike Evans
- Odell Beckham, Jr.
- Calvin Ridley
- Tyler Boyd
- Michael Pittman, Jr.
- Tee Higgins
There are plenty of receivers in the open market that could immediately improve the wide receiver room. Of course, cap space is going to be an issue, but that’s going to be an issue no matter what. Cutting Courtland Sutton would mean $11,475,000 million in dead cap over two seasons. Jerry Jeudy is an unrestricted free agent in 2025 and carries a dead cap hit of only $12,987,000 in 2024.
If you ask me, those dead cap hits are easier to stomach than the $85 million that would follow by cutting ties with Wilson. Even if the Denver Broncos do decide to end it with Russell, Sutton and Jeudy should still go. If the team does want to improve, they have to look at all the reasons for the perceived failures of the team. If you’re going to say QB is an issue, then you have to admit that WR is one as well.
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