What’s next for Russell Wilson after Denver Broncos benched him? | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC
FORWARD. RUSSELL WILSON’S FUTURE AND HERE’S WHAT I BELIEVE WILL HAPPEN. NUMBER ONE I BELIEVE WILL BE CUT. TO I BELIEVE HE’LL BE INCLINED TO TAKE THE VETERAN MINIMUM 1.2 1 MILLION NEXT YEAR. AND STICK THE BRONCOS FOR THE BALANCE OF THE 39 MILLION. HE’S DUE TO MAKE NEXT YEAR FULLY GUARANTEED IS OFFSET LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT. THEY’LL BE ENTITLED TO WHATEVER HERE AND ELSEWHERE. WHY NOT TAKE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. THIS GETS BACK TO THE WHOLE IDEA OF WHY ACCEPT A TRADE. YEAH. I WOULD NEVER ACCEPT THE TRADE. THERE’S NO REASON TO ACCEPT THE TRADE.
WHY DO I WANT MY NEXT TEAM TO GIVE UP ANYTHING TO GET ME? NO, I JUST WANT WAVE MY NO-TRADE CLAUSE AND YOU CAN EITHER HAVE MY 37 MILLION. VEST IS FULLY GUARANTEED AND KEEP ME OR YOU CAN CUT ME THEY’LL CUT HIM. AND I THINK HE’S GOING TO PICK HIS NEXT TEAM BY SAYING YOU GET ME FOR 1 POINT 2 1 MILLION. LET’S GO BECAUSE YOU GET THE REST OF IT ANYWAY, SO WITH THAT AS THE STARTING POINT AS TO WHAT I BELIEVE WILL HAPPEN. WHERE DO YOU THINK HE GOES? WELL, I MEAN, YOU
KNOW, I WISH I KNEW IF I DID I’D BE YOU KNOW THROWING DOWN MONEY AT LAS VEGAS, BUT LIKE LET’S
THAT’S A WILSON LIKE FIRST WEEK OF FREE AGENCY. SOMEBODY’S GOING TO BE KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR AND BE LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE RUSSELL WILSON RIGHT NOW RIGHT THIS MOMENT. WE WANT TO MAKE HIM THE STARTING QUARTERBACK. I DON’T THINK THAT’S HAPPENING. I DON’T I THINK HE’S GOING TO BE MORE OF A GUY FIRST OFF MIKE JUST BEFORE I HIT ON THE TEAM’S RIGHT. THAT’S GOING TO BE LIKE WAIT. LET’S ASSESS THE SITUATION. LET’S SEE HOW FREE AGENCY PLAYS OUT. STILL KIND OF EVALUATING THE ROOKIE QUARTERBACK COMING OUT IN THE DRIVE. LET’S SEE HOW WE
FEEL AND HOW THAT MIGHT SHAKE OUT A LITTLE BIT. OH, WOW. OKAY, WAIT, WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET A GUY WE WANT OR THE THE STARTER WE WANT IN THE DRAFT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. HEY, LET’S LOOK AT RUSSELL WILSON AND SEE WHERE WE CAN GO WITH THAT. I THINK THAT’S HANG ON A SEC. YEAH, GO AHEAD. THAT CAN ALL BE HANDLED AHEAD OF TIME NOW HIS AGENT MARK ROGERS HAS ONE NFL CLIENT AND I THINK IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS IT MAY BE HAMSTRINGS HIM A BIT BECAUSE HE’S NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH
THE WAY THE SAUSAGE IS MADE LIKE SOMEONE WHO HAS 50 TO 75 TO 100 NF L– CLIENTS, BUT HE CAN USE THE SCOUTING COMBINE. HE CAN USE ALL SORTS OF TAMPERING THAT HAPPENS THAT PEOPLE ARE DISCREET ABOUT TO MAKE IT CLEAR GOING INTO FREE AGENCY. THIS IS WHAT IT’S GOING TO BE HE’LL TAKE 1 POINT 2 1 MILLION HE WANTS TO LAND SOMEWHERE. HE’S GONNA WANT TO CREATE THE IMPRESSION OF CHRIS, RIGHT? THERE’S A RUSH FOR HIM. SO YOU DO IT AND AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT IF YOU’RE GETTING RUSSELL WILSON FOR ONE
YEAR AT ONE POINT 2 1 MILLION, THAT’S THE THING. 1.2 DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR. HOW DO YOU SAY NO TO THAT IF YOU’RE A TEAM THAT’S LOOKING FOR A QUARTERBACK EVEN AS A ONE-YEAR EXPERIMENT. HOW DO YOU SAY NO TO IT IF HE’S ONLY COSTING YOU 1 POINT 2 1 MILLION DOLLARS FOR 2024 AND I THINK IF MARK ROGERS WORKS AT THE RIGHT WAY AHEAD OF TIME IT WILL BE THE MOMENT. HE’S CUT IT WILL BE HERE’S WHERE HE’S GOING AND THIS PERCEPTION THAT HE’S HE’S CRASH LANDING ON HIS FEET. THEY’RE GOING TO WALK THAT. 1.21 MILLION DOLLARS
FOR 2024 I DON’T THINK HE’S OKAY, AND I’M NOT BEING CRITICAL IT WOULD APPLY TO ANYONE THINK HE’S GONNA GET THAT I HEAR YOU. THAT’S WHAT I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO TRY TO DO, BUT I THINK A LOT OF TEAMS ARE GOING TO GO WAIT. IT’S BEEN THREE YEARS HERE OF NOT THAT GREAT A PLAY. BUT WE’RE GOING TO WAIT A SECOND HERE. WE’RE NOT READY TO JUST GO. OH, YEAH, YOU’RE THE STARTING QUARTERBACK AND WE’RE GOING TO YOU KNOW HAVE A BANNER AND A PARADE OUT THAT WE GOT RUSSELL WILSON AND MAKE YOU KING
OF THE CASTLE FREE AGENCY OR THE FIRST DAY YOU COULD SIGN WITH A FOOTBALL. I DON’T I DON’T II, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I THE AGENT WILL TRY TO SET THE TABLE TO LOOK THAT WAY OR WHATEVER BUT AS YOU KNOW, AND AS I KNOW I KNOW RIGHT I A LOT OF TEAMS IT’S GOING TO ALL PLAY OUT EARLY ON IN FREE AGENCY AND EVEN WITH THE DRAFT AND THEY LIKE TO LET IT LIKE, LET’S SEE WHERE THIS GUY LANDS BECAUSE NOW THERE’S A DOMINO EFFECT AND LET’S GO FROM THERE. I DON’T THINK HE’S GOING
TO BE A HOT COMMODITY LIKE THAT NOW THERE ARE SOME TEA TEAMS OUT THERE LIKE THE FIRST TEAM I WOULD THINK OF OR AT LEAST WENT TO MY BRAIN WAS LIKE THE WASHINGTON COMMANDERS. THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE RIGHT? I THINK WE’RE GETTING TO THE TERRITORY HERE OF LIKE SAM HOWELL. I DON’T THINK THAT’S GONNA WORK OUT. IT AIN’T LOOKING ALL THAT GOOD. IT’S NOT GOING TO ENERGIZE THE FANBASE RUSSELL WILSON NEW OWNERSHIP AND THE QUARTERBACK ISSUE GOING TO BE A NEW HEAD COACH AND ALL THAT. THAT WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TEAM THAT POPPED IN
MY HEAD MIKE. I THINK THAT ONE MAKES SENSE CERTAINLY AND THEN YOU KNOW, NO, THERE’S SOME OTHERS THAT, YOU KNOW COME INTO PLAY AS WELL, BUT I DON’T THINK THERE’S LIKE AN OBVIOUS FIT HERE AND THERE’S SOME OTHERS ALL UNPACKED WITH YOU IN A SECOND. BUT LIKE WHO WAS YOUR FIRST TEAM? THE RAIDERS THE RAIDERS DIVISION RIVAL. YEAH IF THIS IS IF THIS IS RUSSELL WILSON REVENGE TOUR 2024 THE RAIDERS DIVISION EXTRA LITTLE SOMETHING SOMETHING FOR SEAN PAYTON AND AND IT AGAIN YOU HAVE TO LOOK. TEAMS COULD DO AND ARE DOING WING A LOT WORSE
THAN RUSSELL WILSON RIGHT NOW AND IN A YEAR WHERE EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK AT QUARTERBACK IS INJURED. HE’S ONE OF THE FEW THAT HASN’T EVEN BEEN ON THE INJURY REPORT AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER AND IF HE HAS HE HASN’T MISSED A GAME HE’S GONE WIRE-TO-WIRE UNTIL THEY BENCHED HIM. SO HE’S BETTER THAN SOME OF THE GUYS WHO ARE OUT THERE AND WHEN WE GET INTO THE ANALYTICS AND ANALYTICS STARTED IN FOOTBALL AS A PERSONNEL EVALUATION DEVICE AND IT’S AS SIMPLE AS WHAT AM I GETTING DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR HERE 1.21 MILLION FOR RUSSELL? IN VERSES WHATEVER I
PAY. OH DAN O’CONNELL, WHATEVER PAIN JIMMY GAROPPOLO JIMMY GAROPPOLO’S DONE. ANYWAY FOR WHAT THEY OWE EM NEXT YEAR, ALTHOUGH THEY’RE THEY’RE GOING TO MOVE ON FROM HIM TO AVOID OWING HIM MORE. SO I STARTED WITH THE RAIDERS AND I THINK THE RAIDERS ARE THE TEAM TO WATCH THE FIRST TEAM TO WATCH BECAUSE I THINK IF THEY WANT HIM THEY’RE GOING TO GET HIM IF THE RAIDERS WANT HIM NOW, THEY GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE COACH IS GOING TO BE ETCETERA ETCETERA, BUT RUSSELL WILSON TO THE RAIDERS WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT AND I THINK THERE’S
SOMETHING TO THAT DEPENDING UPON WHO THE COACH IS AND WHAT THEY DECIDE TO DO FROM A PERSONNEL STANDPOINT. MAYBE THAT’LL BE THE MANAGERS ARE WELL, IT’LL BE GOOD IT I HEAR YOU. THIS IS RUSSELL WILSON, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IT’S ALSO RISKY, IT’S LAS VEGAS YEAH, I HEAR YA. YOU MEAN IT’S EVERY IT’S JUST IT’S A FIT. IT’S A FIT AND IT MAKES SENSE ON MANY LEVELS, BUT HERE’S THE INTERESTING UNPACKED US. ALL RIGHT AND THE AFC THERE’S THERE’S THAT’S LIMITED TEAMS. IT’S THE PATRIOTS. IT’S THE RAIDERS. THAT’S IT. EVERYBODY ELSE HAS A QUARTERBACK. WHAT DID
YOU WANT TO GO IN PITTSBURGH AND COMPETE WITH KENNY PICK? YES. OKAY, I THOUGHT OF THAT TOO. I’M NOT BETTER THAN KENNY PICK IT IS NOT WHAT IS HE GOING TO BE? OKAY AGAIN, WE’RE TRYING TO FRAME IT TO WHEREVER LOOKS LIKE A SEWERS ARE I KNOW I KNOW WHERE’D YOU GROW UP? WELL, PRETTY GROW UP SOMEWHERE THERE AND HE GREW UP IN RICHMOND, RIGHT AND MIKE TOMLIN HAS A SPECIFIC AFFINITY. R4 EASTERN VIRGINIA ATHLETE JUST DOES THAT’S WHY MIKE VICK ENDED UP IN PITTSBURGH. OKAY. WELL, CLOSE AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE THERE AND
HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THE KID THAT YOU KNOW WENT TO SCHOOL WITH PITTSBURGH AND DO THAT. THAT LOOK LIKE YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT KING OF THE CASTLE. HEY COME HERE FOR A MILLION DOLLARS AND NOT COMPETE WITH KENNY PICKETT WHO REALLY HASN’T BEEN THAT GOOD BUT COMPETE WITH THEM. DOES THAT LOOK GOOD? I DON’T KNOW. THAT’S WHERE I’M LIKE, I’M NOT SURE RUSSELL WILL DO THAT. THAT’LL BE INTERESTING PART OF THE CONVERSATION. THAT’S A GREAT POINT. YEAH, POINT. YEAH, I COULD SEE THE INTERESTED, BUT I THINK RUSS IS GOING TO WANT AN OUTCOME HERE. AND AGAIN,
THIS IS HUMAN NATURE. WE’RE TRYING. UNDERSTAND HOW HUMAN NATURE INTERSECTS WITH THIS SITUATION. HE’S GOING TO WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE HE HAS ONE. YEAH WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE. HE’S HAD THE JOB HANDED TO HIM RIGHT YOU CAN HAVE TO COMPETE JOB RIGHT AND IF IT COMES TO END IF HE’S ANY I’VE GOT 1 POINT 2 1 MILLION AND AND WE’LL SEE WHO’S INTERESTED IN WE’LL SEE WHAT THEIR TERMS ARE AND WHETHER OR NOT I HAVE TO COMPETE BUT I AGREE WITH YOU IF THE STEELERS SAY YOU GOT TO COME IN AND
EARN THE JOB. NO, THANK YOU. IF WE’RE JUST GOING TO HAND YOU THE JOB. THANK YOU BECAUSE I THINK HE’S GOING TO GO WHEREVER THEY THEY GIVE HIM THE JOB FOR 2024 AT ONE POINT 2 1 MILLION WITH THE BRONCOS PAYING THE REST. YEAH, I HEAR YOU THERE. I HEAR THIS IT WAS LIKE LISTEN, I THAT WAS ONE THAT WAS I RODE DOWN. IT’S ON MY RADAR FOR SURE, RIGHT, YOU KNOW I GET TO DO ATLANTA FALCONS, THAT’D BE ANOTHER ONE. WHERE DOES THAT GO? THAT’S CERTAINLY FIT IS AN OBVIOUS FIT. YOU KNOW, I YOU
KNOW, I BUT AFTER THAT WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE NFC THERE’S LIMITED PLACES THERE TOO. WHERE’S THEIR TO GO? HE AIN’T GOING TO TAMPA THEY GOT THEIR GUY. I MEAN DALLAS SEATTLE’S NOT BRINGING THEM BACK MINNESOTA. I DON’T THINK IT’S GOING TO GO THAT ROUTE, RIGHT ARIZONA. I DON’T THINK I DON’T ENVISION THAT HAPPENING EITHER CAROLINA. THEY’RE NOT GOING TO WANT HIM COMING IN TO OVERLOOK, YOU KNOW, LOOK OVER BRAKES YOUNG SHOULDER OR DEAL WITH THAT. SO THAT’S WHERE IT’S A LITTLE INTERESTING, YOU KNOW THE GIANTS WOULD THEY WANT TO BRING THEM IN AND DO
THAT WHAT HE WANT TO COMPETE WITH DANIEL JONES 1.2 MILLION WILL BRING IN DANIEL JONAH. WELL, I KNOW SO THERE I MEAN, I THINK WE KIND OF HIT THE TEAM. THAT ARE EVEN REMOTELY A POSSIBILITY YOU KIND OF LOOK AND WHERE TEAMS ARE RIGHT NOW A LOT OF THE NFL TO SET UP AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITION FOR NEXT YEAR EXCEPT FOR THE THREE OR FOUR TEAMS. WE JUST MENTIONED REALLY AFC RAIDERS PATRIOTS STEELERS, YEAH. THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT AND I DON’T THINK PATRIOTS IS GOING TO I DON’T GOT THEY WOULD WANT TO DO THAT
EITHER FOR ALSO WILSON THING, RIGHT RIGHT NFC COMMANDERS. THAT WAS YOUR FIRST INKLING BY FALCONS. I AGREE VIKINGS IF KIRK COUSINS LEAVES IF KIRK COUSINS LEAVES THEN THEN RUSSELL WILSON IS AN OPTION THERE BECAUSE WHAT THE HELL ELSE ARE THEY GOING TO DO FOR 2024 IF KIRK COUSINS LEAVES IF YOU CAN GET RUSSELL WILSON FOR 1.2 1 MILLION AND KEVIN O’CONNELL IS CONFIDENT HE CAN TAKE RUSSELL WILSON AND AND INJECT HIM INTO THE OFFENSE AND MAKE IT WORK THE WAY THAT HE’S DONE AT LEAST FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME WITH JOSH DOBBS AND NICK MULLENS.
THEN THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY. BUT ONLY IF THE VIKINGS LEFT HIGH AND DRY WITHOUT KIRK COUSINS AND YOU BRUSHED OFF THE SEAHAWKS AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ON KJR YESTERDAY IN SEATTLE. I DO A SPOT EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 6:10 EASTERN 310 PACIFIC TIME HERE’S THE REALITY. YEAH IF GENO SMITH AND RUSSELL WILSON ARE LET’S HAVE LEAKED OPERABLE THEN. IT BECOMES A MATTER OF DOLLARS. IT BECOMES A MATTER OF ANALYTICS. AND IF GINA IS GOING TO COST 25 MILLION NEXT YEAR AND RUSS COS 1 POINT 2 1 MILLION, AND TAKEN ALL THE STUFF. THEY GOT
FROM THE BRONCOS FOR THE TRADE TWO YEARS LATER YOU GET HIM BACK FOR THE VETERAN MINIMUM SALARY AND THEY PAY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1.2 1 MILLION AND 39 MILLION. THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. THAT THAT WOULD CREATE AN ATTRACTION. AND A LOT OF DEPENDS UPON WHAT THE FANS WOULD WANT NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES A HELL OF A STORY IF RUSSELL WILSON GOES BACK TO SEATTLE AND HE IS GIVEN A HERO’S WELCOME AND ALL FENCES ARE MENDED. HE’S LEARNED HIS LESSON. HE DOESN’T NEED TO COOK ANYMORE. HE’S CONTENT TO JUST RUN THE OFFENSE AND DO
WHAT HE’S ALWAYS DONE THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNS HOME THE QUESTION IS WITH PETE CARROLL. SLAY THE FATTED CALF. I DON’T KNOW I KIND OF LIKE IT AS A STORY. BUT AGAIN, GENO SMITH WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THIS THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AFTER THIS SEASON. IT’S A ONE-YEAR 28 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT. THEY CAN TEAR IT UP. THERE’S A ROSTER BONUS DO EARLY IN THE LEAGUE YEAR FOR GENO SMITH. THEY CAN TEAR IT UP AND MOVE ON DREW LOCKS. GOT A ONE-YEAR DEAL. THEY COULD BRING BACK RUSSELL WILSON IF THEY WON’T KNOW IF THEY WANT TO
BUT IF THEY WANTED TO THEY COULD AND AS SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS ROOT FOR GREAT STORIES, THEY’LL GET BETTER THAN RUSSELL WILSON GOING BACK TO SEATTLE. WELL, I MEAN, IT WOULD BE AMAZING. IT WOULD BE A GREAT STORY, BUT I GOT THE FEELING THAT YOU KNOW AT THE END THERE EVEN WHEN HE WAS STILL WITH THE SEAHAWKS AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW ANYBODY YOU TALK TO KIND OF ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEATTLE ORGANIZATION. IT CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE THEY WERE EXASPERATED AND KIND OF SICK OF RUSSELL WILSON. I MEAN, I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY DOUBT ABOUT IT.
SO THAT’S WHERE IT WOULD BE SHOCKING TO ME. AND YOU KNOW, I’M NOT SO SURE LIKE I KNOW DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR HE’S A I’M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND TELL YOU THAT HE’S DEFINITELY BETTER THAN GENO SMITH. HE DEFINITELY DOESN’T STAND IN THE POCKET AND MAKE SOME OF THE THROWS AND PLAYS THAT GENO SMITH DOES RIGHT NOW. THAT’S FOR SURE. I COULD TELL YOU THAT 100% FOR SURE. SO THAT WAS WHERE YOU KNOW AGAIN, IT’D BE A COOL STORY. I HEAR YOU. I DON’T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN OR AT LEAST I’D BE SHOCKED IF IT DID HAPPEN
BUT IT’LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT ALL PLAYS OUT AND SEE WHO REALLY WANTS AND WHEN IT’S ALL SAI
