On Monday afternoon, the Denver Broncos officially announced a move that has been long expected as the team officially decided to part ways with quarterback Russell Wilson after two disappointing seasons with the Broncos. But while Denver is undoubtedly excited about the future with a different quarterback leading the way, this move is not coming cheap.
As Front Office Sports points out, by cutting Russell Wilson, the Denver Broncos are now taking on what is by far the largest dead cap hit in the history of the league for one single player.
“By releasing Russell Wilson, the Broncos will take on an NFL-record $85 MILLION in dead cap. It’s the largest dead cap hit in league history—bigger than the previous two records combined,” Front Office Sports said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
By releasing Russell Wilson, the Broncos will take on an NFL-record $85 MILLION in dead cap.
It's the largest dead cap hit in league history—bigger than the previous two records combined. pic.twitter.com/Z64uAk7DCv
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 4, 2024
Obviously, this is pretty horrible news for the Broncos to be taking such a massive hit to the salary cap for a player that won’t even be on the roster next season, and the NFL world had a lot to say about it on social media as a result.
If anyone would like to pay me $85 million dollars to not do any work for them at all, please hit my inbox
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 4, 2024
$85 million in dead cap is high key psychotic
— smalls (@StephieSmallls) March 4, 2024
Russell Wilson is going to get paid 85 million to stop coming into work.
Where do I sign up? pic.twitter.com/743l1Hjot2
— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) March 4, 2024
The Denver Broncos paid Russell Wilson $122 million for two years of work.
$85 million of that money has not been accounted for in the salary cap yet. Denver has two options:
1. Eat the full $85 million in 2024
2. Split the dead money between 2024 ($35.4m) and 2025 ($49.6m)— Henry Chisholm (@HenryChisholm) March 4, 2024
The Colts have had their doozies of bad QB trades but nothing in the stratosphere of an $85 million dead-cap hit. All-time whiff. https://t.co/SnxjeJIWf1
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) March 4, 2024
Do you know how much a team has to LOATHE YOU to eat an $85 million dead cap!??
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) March 4, 2024
It’s safe to say the trade to acquire Wilson ended up backfiring spectacularly.
