The start of the NFL free agency period certainly has arrived with some surprises, but also some scenarios that were clearly expected. Everyone knew that the Denver Broncos were going to part ways with veteran QB Russell Wilson after only 2 seasons in the Mile High City.
The short-lived relationship between newly appointed head coach Sean Payton and Broncos QB Wilson never really had a chance to develop after just one season. Payton never really bought in to Wilson’s style of play on the field or his demeanor off the field, particularly when you hear remarks like: “stop kissing all the babies and just play football”.
Let’s look at the fact that in Wilson’s defense, he never really was given a fair chance to prove his worth in Denver. The first year was an all-around disaster, as the Broncos hired Nathaniel Hackett to coach the team. Hackett had no head coaching experience, and he honestly was brought in due to the fact the Broncos were in the running to potentially obtain Aaron Rodgers, which didn’t happen.
In his first year in Denver, the Broncos never bothered to surround Russ with key weapons to truly compete for a Superbowl. The offensive line was a mess, the defense was suspect at times, and the injury bug hit Denver hard. Clock management was a huge issue for Hackett and the Broncos, and the team never really had a true identity under Hackett.
After a terrible and disappointing 2022 season with the Broncos going 5-12, Hackett was on the chopping block and was fired after one season. Fans and media in Denver were heavily criticizing Wilson for underperforming despite him not having the right personnel or coaches on the sideline.
The minute that Denver hired Sean Payton, many knew (including myself) that this short-term relationship between Russ and the Broncos was ending abruptly. Payton has certain habits and a coaching style that he won’t let go of while Wilson’s image, style of play, and overall personality didn’t seem to match Payton’s expectations.
Despite Russ displaying some respectable numbers consisting of 26 TD’s, 3,070 yards, and only 8 interceptions, Denver forced their hand on him and benched him for the final two games of the season. A lot of this had to do with Wilson refusing to restructure his deal with Denver.
So, once he was released a few weeks back, the Broncos had to live with the thought of paying Russ $85 million dollars in dead money after only two years on the roster. This clearly was the worst trade in NFL history, despite Russ not being the biggest reason why.
From an organizational standpoint, the Broncos mishandled this situation and failed miserably. Wilson didn’t deserve to be “kicked out the door,” and the new ownership in Denver clearly needs to be better. It seems that based on the recent moves Denver has made, they’re getting rid of a lot of key players who can keep this team competitive.
I suppose clearing up cap space is more important right now for Denver instead of attempting to win football games while having your best and most capable guys on the field. The Steelers clearly were the right move for both sides, as they only need to pay Russ the league minimum of $1.2 million this year.
Denver will eat the other $39 million of Wilson’s salary. Mike Tomlin is a great players coach and will get the most out of Wilson in Pittsburgh. A new start for Russ and the Steelers seems to be promising. Now that Pittsburgh has traded Kenny Pickett to the Eagles, the keys to the team it seems have already been handed off to Wilson.
It certainly won’t be easy in the AFC North, particularly with Wilson facing off against Joe Burrow, DeShaun Watson, and Lamar Jackson twice a year. The reward is a better coach and a much better environment for Russ to thrive in. Many have given up on Wilson, but I’m not one of them. I believe
that Russell is motivated, and he will bounce back in a big way. The question that remains to be seen is just how far he can take the Steelers in terms of not just getting to the playoffs, but also winning and competing for a Superbowl.
Stay tuned, as only time will tell in the Steel City.