- PREMIUM
- HOME
- NFL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
- NBA
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Southeast
Atlantic
Southwest
Northwest
- MLB
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
AL East
AL Central
NL West
NL East
- NHL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Atlantic
Pacific
- WNBA
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Eastern
- EPL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
- MLS
Transactions
Trending Players
Eastern
ATL Atlanta UnitedAtlanta United FC
MTL MontrealCF Montreal
CLT CharlotteCharlotte FC
CHI FireChicago Fire
CLB Columbus CrewColumbus Crew
DC UnitedD.C. United
CIN CincinnatiFC Cincinnati
MIA Inter MiamiInter Miami FC
NSH NashvilleNashville SC
NE RevolutionNew England Revolution
NYC New York CityNew York City FC
RBNY Red BullsNew York Red Bulls
ORL Orlando CityOrlando City
PHI UnionPhiladelphia Union
TOR TorontoToronto FC
Western
ATX AustinAustin FC
COL RapidsColorado Rapids
DAL DallasFC Dallas
HOU DynamoHouston Dynamo
LA GalaxyLA Galaxy
LAFC Los AngelesLos Angeles FC
MIN MinnesotaMinnesota United FC
POR TimbersPortland Timbers
RSL Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
SJ EarthquakesSan Jose Earthquakes
SEA SoundersSeattle Sounders FC
SKC Kansas CitySporting Kansas City
STL St. Louis CITYSt. Louis CITY SC
VAN WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps FC
- NWSL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
ACFC Angel City FCAngel City FC
BFC Bay FCBay FC
CHI Chicago Red StarsChicago Red Stars
HOU Houston DashHouston Dash
KC Kansas City CurrentKansas City Current
NJNY NJ/NY Gotham FCNJ/NY Gotham FC
NC North Carolina CourageNorth Carolina Courage
ORL Orlando PrideOrlando Pride
POR Portland Thorns FCPortland Thorns FC
LOU Racing Louisville FCRacing Louisville FC
SD San Diego Wave FCSan Diego Wave FC
SEA Seattle Reign FCSeattle Reign FC
UTA Utah Royals FCUtah Royals FC
WAS Washington SpiritWashington Spirit
- GOLF
Popular Pages
Trending Players
- TENNIS
ATP
WTA
- RACING
NASCAR CUP
FORMULA 1
- OLYMPICS
Financially Assessing the Russell Wilson Disaster
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/xlarge/USATSI_19649783_168390303_lowres.jpg)
Russell Wilson’s splashdown in Denver went about as poorly as possible, forcing many to ask the question - what now?
DISCLAIMER: The only correct answer to this question is, hire a new coach, and ride this thing out for a few more years. However, for the sake of answering all of the possible questions - we’ll entertain all options below.
The Basics
Wilson’s contract contains 6 years, $239M remaining. As of today, $67M of that cash is fully guaranteed, with another $40M of bonus proration bringing us to a real-time dead cap total of $107M. Wilson’s cap figure for 2023 is currently set at $22M (less than 10% of a projected $225M league salary cap).
(Again, this is all for hypothetical purposes only. Wilson will 100% be back in Denver next season with hopes that a new coaching staff can be the magic wand to immediately fix everything)
A March 2023 Release
$25M of base salary accelerates, $42M of unexercised option bonus accelerates, $40M of signing bonus proration accelerates.
2023 Dead Cap Hit: $107M ($67M of which is straight cash)
A Post June 1st Release
$25M of base salary accelerates, $22M of future unexercised option bonus accelerates, $60M of bonus proration is split between 2023/2024. They’d still owe him $67M cash, but the 2023 option bonus would have been exercised, allowing it to prorate for cap purposes.
Dead Cap Hits
2023: $61M
2024: $46M
A March 2023 Trade
Denver takes on $40M of 2023 dead cap if they trade Wilson before his $20M option bonus is exercised.
A new (crazy) team would acquire cap hits of:
2023: $12M
2024: $25.4M
2025: $45.4M
2026: $48.4M
2027: $53.4M
2028: $54.4M
Or cash payouts of:
2023: $28M (guaranteed)
2024: $39M (guaranteed)
2025: $37M (guarantees in 2024)
2026: $40M
2027: $45M
2028: $50M
An Early March 2024 Release
$39M of base salary + $46M of bonus proration.
2024 Dead Cap Hit: $85M ($39M cash)
A Post June 1st Designation Release in 2024
$39M of base salary + $14M of bonus proration in 2024, $32M of 2025 bonus proration.
Dead Cap Hits
2024: $53M ($39M cash)
2025: $32M
A March 2024 Trade
Denver takes on $46M of 2023 dead cap if they trade Wilson before his $22M option bonus is exercised.
A new team would acquire cap hits of:
2024: $21.4M
2025: $41.4M
2026: $44.4M
2027: $49.4M
2028: $54.4M
Or cash payouts of:
2024: $39M (guaranteed)
2025: $37M (guarantees in 2024)
2026: $40M
2027: $45M
2028: $50M
Our Current Stance
This is a non-conversation. It’s possible we get to March 2025, and things are still as bad as they are today, and the Broncos convince the owner to pay him $37M cash to go away - but even then, even three Marches from now, we’re talking about $86.6M of dead cap.
A Post June 1st release in 2025 would mean dead cap hits of $55.4M in 2025, and another $31.2M in 2026.
The cleaner solution - the way this contract was actually meant to exist - is that the Broncos move on after the 2025 season, taking on a $31.2M dead cap hit, saving $27.2M of space, and continuing on with their lives.
If that feels like forever from now - it’s because it is.
CATEGORIES
- NBA 105
- NFL 68
- GOLF 50
- NWSL 30
- MLB 22
- NHL 1
AUTHORS
- Michael Ginnitti NFL, MLB
- Keith Smith NBA
- Scott Allen Contributor
- Taylor Vincent NWSL
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4466_gotham-20240726.png)
Gotham FC Signs Youngest Ever Player in NWSL
Gotham FC signed the youngest ever player in the NWSL - 13 year old Mak Whitman
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4451_USATSI_23779303_168390303_lowres.jpg)
The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline Primer
With the July 30th trade deadline approaching, Spotrac has identified dozens of players rumored as potential moves this week, including deadline salary, future contract status, & a team tax update.
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4461_DSC07805.jpg)
San Diego Wave Sign Delphine Cascarino
San Diego Wave sign Delphine Cascarino through the 2026 NWSL season with a mutual option for 2027
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4462_USATSI_23744008_168390303_lowres.jpg)
Central Division Summer League Notes
Keith Smith dumps out his Summer League notebook for the Central Division.
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4460_USATSI_20326861_168390303_lowres2.jpg)
Meet the NWSL’s NTRPs
Let's meet the NWSL's National Team Replacement Players as the Olympics begin their play.
TRENDING PLAYERS
- 1 Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA)
- 2 Jordan Love (QB, GB)
- 3 Zach Eflin (SP, BAL)
- 4 Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)
- 5 Randy Arozarena (LF, SEA)
TRENDING PAGES
- 1 NFL Contracts
- 2 NFL Free Agents
- 3 NBA Transactions
- 4 NFL Transactions
- 5 NFL Salary Rankings