I know it’s a little early in the offseason for me to start the 5 o’clock club, but I felt this was the ideal chance to exploit the “what if” aspect of these pieces to pose a fascinating query in light of Russell Wilson’s rumored release by the Broncos:
Do the Commanders have any business dealing with Russell Wilson?
Let me explain why it might be advantageous for Adam Peters to pursue DangeRuss before you yell bloody murder and rush to the comments section to label me an idiot.
Russ had a respectable 2023 campaign.
Russell Wilson had a very successful 2023 season under Sean Payton, despite the fact that the trade for him turned out to be disastrous for the Broncos. It is undeniable that Wilson’s 2022 season with Nathanial Hackett was the worst of his career.
In comparison to both his career average and his 10-year average with the Seahawks, Russ completed 66.4% of his throws. Wilson’s 12-year career completion percentage was, in reality, the third highest.
In addition, the quarterback threw 8 interceptions and 26 touchdowns. Throughout his ten years with the Seahawks, his interception percentage of 1.8% was exactly average.
In addition, Russell completed 80 runs with the ball for 341 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 38 first downs.
In summary, Wilson still has exceptional mobility and is a solid passer despite his upcoming 36th birthday. He may not be as good as he once was because of the 2022 season’s taint, but he is still performing at a level that provides his team a chance to win.
2. Russ might sign a contract for a pittance.
The Broncos owe Russell Wilson a cash salary of $39 million, which is by far the largest amount any organization has ever owed a released player.
Due to offset provisions in his contract, any money given to Wilson by the Commanders (or the team that signs him) just lowers the total amount that the Broncos must pay him, dollar for dollar. To put it another way, Wilson will not receive more than that $39 million this season, so while he’s sticking his finger in Sean Payton’s eye, he might as well sign a 2024 contract that pays the league minimum and help his new team manage the salary cap.
Accordingly, Russell might be playing for Washington on a deal that has a $1.21 million cap charge; in comparison, the player chosen with the second overall pick in 2024 will have a salary hit of roughly $7.79 million according Over the Cap.
Put another way, picking Russell Wilson instead of a rookie quarterback could potentially save the Commanders approximately $6.58 million in contract room. In this case, Wilson and Sam Howell’s total cap hits as QB1 and QB2 would be less than $3.2 million! In terms of the team’s roster “recalibration,” this would be a huge benefit.
