Three landing spots for Russell Wilson in 2024
With news that the Denver Broncos will start backup Jarrett Stidham for the final two games of the 2023 season, Russell Wilson’s short rollercoaster of a ride with the team now looks to be over.
Wilson expects to be cut in March, which will be just under two years since his blockbuster move from the Seattle Seahawks, which would go on to have a real domino-impact on the QB market in 2022. Denver traded two first-round picks, two second-round picks, three players and more to Seattle for the quarterback, a nine-time Pro Bowler with the team, which now looks set to go down as one of the worst deals in NFL history.
Wilson has shown glimpses of his best this season, but his contract has always been the big issue. Wilson is guaranteed $39 million for 2024. He has $37 million in injury guarantees that become fully guaranteed if he is still on the roster on the fifth day of the 2024 league year that begins in March.
So with the player set to leave, here are three teams which could look to sign Wilson for the 2024 season:
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have the players on offense, and just need a competent quarterback to bring everything together. Wilson could offer that, particularly if the Falcons miss out on being in a position to draft a top QB in this year’s draft.
We’ve talked about the Bears’ Justin Fields as the attractive option for Atlanta considering his potential upside, but Wilson could be the next, best alternative. He’s proved he can still be a starter on his day, and has proved he’s one of the best when captaining a run-first attack, something the Falcons like to focus on.
In a weak division with a lot of potential, moving to Atlanta could be a really attractive destination for Wilson as he now looks to rebuild his career.
Minnesota Vikings
Similar to Atlanta, the Vikings look set to be in the market for a new QB in 2024, with Kirk Cousins’ contract expiring. While many within the organisation will be desperate to find a young QB which they can develop into an elite star, this is still a team well positioned as a win-now team, which Wilson could bring.
Wilson’s asking contract price could be an issue, but even if the Vikings still go QB in the draft, he could prove to be the perfect bridge player to the younger talent, and probably even be cheaper than re-signing Cousins. This could be a real win-win for Minnesota.
New England Patriots
New England will more than likely be in with a shot at selecting one of the top 2024 QB prospects in the draft, but something about Russell Wilson joining the Patriots feels like an inevitable match.
Bill Belichick’s future with the team is very uncertain, but if he is to stay, Wilson’s business-first approach could be an attractive asset for him and New England, who are in desperate need of an upgrade at QB. Even if they take a quarterback in the draft, Wilson could play a big role for the team in 2024.
