“Broncos country, let’s cry!” – Denver taking an NFL record of $85 million dead cap by releasing Russell Wilson triggers WILD reactions on social media

The Denver-based football team is now in the market for a quarterback.

“Broncos country, let’s cry!” – Denver taking an NFL record of $85 million dead cap by releasing Russell Wilson triggers WILD reactions on social media

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson stands on the sidelines during an NFL, American Football Herren, USA game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos on December 31, 2023 (Image via IMAGO)

What was expected to be one of the best trades made by the Denver Broncos will now go down as an all-time blunder! The Broncos have decided to part ways with their expensive quarterback, Russell Wilson after a couple of poor seasons.

Just a few minutes after the NFL insider Ian Rapoport broke the news, the Broncos general manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton released a joint statement announcing their decision to part ways with Wilson. They announced Wilson would be released by the team after the start of the new league season on March 13.

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We spoke with Russell Wilson today to inform him of his release after the start of the league year. On behalf of the Broncos, we thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team while wishing him the best as he continues his career.
the Broncos said in a statement

This was an expected move from the Broncos, since their relationship with Wilson was deteriorating fast in recent days. The Broncos recently caught a lot of heat for threatening the star quarterback to take a pay cut. However, Wilson did not budge and was benched by Payton during the 2023 regular season as a result.

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It was a messy end to the relationship, which started with a lot of optimism back during the 2022 off-season. The Denver-based football team acquired Wilson via a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks. They sent three players, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick in exchange for the veteran QB in a blockbuster trade.

In addition, Wilson signed a massive five-year deal with the Broncos worth more than $242 million, including $161 million in guarantees. Wilson’s mammoth deal raised a lot of eyebrows at the moment and now it has proven to be a disaster deal done out of desperation. Instead of opting to rebuild their team, they overpaid the veteran QB. And now, they will be paying a hefty price as a result.

Social media reacts to Broncos releasing Russell Wilson

NFL fans on social media had some wild reactions to the Broncos releasing Russell Wilson after paying a hefty price to acquire him two years ago. Fans bashed the Denver-based organization for being a dysfunctional franchise.

Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson (Via Imago)

As a result of the move, the Broncos will now carry $85 million in dead cap salaries, which is a record for the largest figure in the league’s history. Previously, the Atlanta Falcons carried a $40.53 million dead cap hit after trading their star QB Matt Ryan back in the 2022 off-season.

Nonetheless, now that Wilson is heading towards the free agency, he is expected to receive interest from a lot of teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders. However, it’s unlikely he would receive a high salary.

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