When the Denver Broncos completed the biggest NFL trade of the year landing future-Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks, the entire franchise was changed in an instant. They went from a rudderless, listless franchise to one that will contend in 2022.
Field Yates of ESPN broke down one move each NFL team should make before the start of training camp and for the Broncos he predictably looked at Wilson’s contract. Denver needs to lock him down for years to come.
Denver Broncos
Give quarterback Russell Wilson an extension sooner rather than later
The Broncos are thrilled to have Wilson as the centerpiece of their franchise going forward and unquestionably want him to be there for the long haul. He is under contract for two more seasons and will earn a total of $51 million from Denver via his present deal. An extension for Wilson would represent a massive raise, but it’s possible that doing a deal now could wind up being a forward-thinking maneuver as the quarterback market continues to soar. Should Wilson play to expectations this year, the cost of an extension will almost surely be higher next offseason.
Yates made one really good point. The cost to sign Wilson now will likely give us all a bit of sticker shock, but like when general manager George Paton extended both Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick, we could be thanking him for getting such a ‘great deal’ on the extension.
The NFL market seems to be moving fast in the upward trend. According to Spotrac, Wilson’s “market value” would be in the $42.7 million range. They suggest a four-year, $213.8 million deal that would make him the fifth highest paid quarterback in the league.
While that may seem eye-popping today, who knows where this quarterback market will be next year. And to be perfectly honest, I don’t care what they pay Russell Wilson. Quarterbacks drive this league and after six years wandering through the quarterback wilderness, the Broncos finally have one that can win games and compete for championships. Sign me up for whatever the price may be!
Poll
Would a $42-44M a year average for Russell Wilson be a good deal in two years?
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