The Already Significant Interest In Russell Wilson Says Something About Sean Payton
The Russell Wilson free agency tour has begun and the early stages are kind of about the erstwhile Denver Broncos quarterback fitting in as possible competition for an incumbent starter with the New York Giants or the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wilson was on the road Friday morning on his way to Pittsburgh to visit the Steelers after meeting with the Giants Thursday. Both teams have proclaimed their faith in their incumbent starters – Daniel Jones (Giants) and Kenny Pickett (Steelers). But both teams are open to having a competition or maybe even a possible replacement at the position.
The more serious possibilities for Wilson being another team's presumptive starter are currently on the horizon, with the Minnesota Vikings and possibly Las Vegas Raiders strongly considering Wilson for the 2024 season.
So Wilson is in some demand.
Wilson Tour Puts Focus Back On Broncos
And what does this say about what the Broncos just did? What Sean Payton just decided?
He had Wilson on his roster. Still does, actually, until next week.
But Payton benched Wilson the final two games of 2023 in a season the QB had already thrown 26 touchdown passes to 8 interceptions. Payton publicly berated Wilson on the sideline during a game before that benching eventually came. And then, obviously, Payton decided he so disliked the Wilson experience, he wanted him off the team altogether.
This despite an onerous salary cap hit of $85 million in dead money over the next two seasons.
So Sean Payton really, really, really didn't want Russell Wilson and is cutting off his salary cap nose for the satisfaction of not having him.
That suggests Wilson has some major character or performance flaw the veteran Broncos coach simply could not abide.
Mike Tomlin means business. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Mike Tomlin Seems Open To Wilson
But what about Steelers coach Mike Tomlin? He's apparently willing to abide Wilson, at least in theory. So is Giants coach Brian Daboll. And possibly so are Raiders coach Antonio Pierce and Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell.
They don't initially see the idea of Wilson as so distasteful as to not consider him. The opposite is already true with Tomlin and Daboll. The opposite could soon be true with the other two and possibly other coaches.
The Wilson free agency tour has just begun.
This isn't going to be finished by the weekend or even Monday, when teams can begin negotiating with other quarterbacks, unless somebody just blows the Wilson camp away with an offer including both commitment beyond 2024 and a chance to play immediately.
And even if that happens, that makes a stronger case Wilson is valuable to somebody.
So, again, what does that say about Payton's call?
Payton's Broncos Searching For A QB
You have to understand the Broncos didn't discard Wilson because they have someone better waiting offstage. They got nobody waiting to climb in as their starter, certainly no one obviously better. They're looking for their next starting quarterback this offseason.
And that may have to come in the draft where quarterbacks, even those picked in the first round, come with inconsistent certainty. The percentages say quarterbacks drafted in the first round the past 5-10 years fail to meet their draft expectations roughly 50 percent of the time.
Consider that the 2018 draft, for example, delivered Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in the first round. Two of those were an outright draft bust and the Browns eventually moved on from Mayfield.
The 2017 draft delivered Patrick Mahomes but also Mitchell Trubisky and Deshaun Watson in the first round.
And 2019 brought Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones and Dwayne Haskins.
So the idea the Broncos ejected Wilson knowing they would upgrade in the draft with possibly J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., or Bo Nix is ludicrous. They hope that's the case. But they have no guarantee any of those will be a 26-TD and 8-interception guy anytime soon.
So the focus in Denver should be on Payton. He's earned a reputation as an amazing offensive mind. But he also has a history of making some terrific blunders here and there.
The early interest in Wilson suggests Payton might be adding to that list.