Denver Broncos to Release Russell Wilson: A Costly Mistake in NFL History
In a shocking turn of events, the Denver Broncos have announced that they will be releasing star quarterback Russell Wilson next week. This decision serves as an official admission of the disastrous trade the team made back in 2022 to acquire Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos gave up five draft picks and three players to secure Wilson, and then proceeded to award him a massive five-year, $242.6 million contract extension before he even took a practice snap. However, Wilson’s tenure with the Broncos proved to be a disappointment, as he appeared in 30 games over two seasons and only managed to win 11 of them, failing to reach the playoffs.
The decision to release Wilson comes as no surprise, as he was benched in late December due to poor performance and concerns about his hefty contract and potential injury risks. The financial implications of keeping Wilson on the roster were simply too great for the Broncos to bear. As a result, the team will now suffer a dead-cap hit of $85 million, which will be split between this year and next year.
While the Wilson acquisition and subsequent extension will go down in history as one of the worst trades for a veteran quarterback in the NFL, it is important to note that there have been other cautionary tales of historically bad quarterback moves throughout the league’s history. One such example is the Miami Dolphins’ failed experiment with Daunte Culpepper in 2006. The Dolphins traded for Culpepper, hoping he would recover from knee surgery better than free agent Drew Brees would recover from shoulder surgery. However, Culpepper played only four games before clashing with head coach Nick Saban and succumbing to injury, while Brees went on to become a future Hall of Famer with the New Orleans Saints.
Another team that finds itself in a precarious situation is the Cleveland Browns, who are currently waiting for Deshaun Watson to deliver a return on their investment. The Browns gave up three first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fourth-rounder, and an unprecedented $230 million fully guaranteed contract for Watson. However, it remains to be seen if Watson can change the narrative and live up to the Browns’ expectations.
With the book now closed on the Russell Wilson era in Denver, it is worth examining the 10 worst trades for a veteran quarterback in the last 35 years. These trades serve as cautionary tales for teams looking to make bold moves in the pursuit of a franchise quarterback. Among the notable trades on this list are Carson Palmer’s move to the Raiders in 2011, Brad Johnson’s trade to Washington in 1999, and Carson Wentz’s trade to the Colts in 2021.
One trade that stands out is Brett Favre’s move from the Atlanta Falcons to the Green Bay Packers in 1992. The Falcons drafted Favre in the second round of the 1991 draft but failed to recognize his talent. They traded him to the Packers for the 17th pick in the 1992 draft, and Favre went on to have a legendary career, becoming a future Hall of Famer.
Another trade that proved to be a disaster was the Chicago Bears’ decision to trade for Rick Mirer in 1997. Mirer, who was a star at Notre Dame, failed to live up to expectations in Seattle and was traded to the Bears for a first-round pick. However, Mirer went winless as a starter for the Bears and was released after just one season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also made a regrettable trade in 1990 when they acquired Chris Chandler from the Indianapolis Colts. Chandler had shown promise with the Colts, but he struggled during his two seasons with the Buccaneers, going winless as a starter.
Perhaps the most infamous trade on this list is the Atlanta Falcons’ decision to trade for Jeff George in 1994. The Falcons believed that a change of scenery would help George reach his full potential, but he clashed with head coach June Jones and ultimately failed to live up to expectations.
Finally, the worst trade for a veteran quarterback in recent history is undoubtedly the Denver Broncos’ trade for Russell Wilson. The team believed that Wilson would be the missing piece to their Super Bowl puzzle, but his performance on the field fell short of expectations. Despite a slight improvement in his second season with the team, Wilson’s best days are clearly behind him, and the Broncos have decided to cut ties with him.
As the Broncos move forward without Wilson, they will face the challenge of rebuilding without premium draft picks and limited cap space. It remains to be seen how they will navigate this difficult situation and find a new franchise quarterback. One thing is for certain, though: the decision to trade for Wilson will go down in history as one of the costliest mistakes in NFL history.
