When Russell Wilson got benched for Jarrett Stidham, it opened up a whirlpool of questions surrounding Wilson’s future in Denver. His tenure as a Bronco has been rocky at times but showed some promise after just one year in Head Coach Sean Payton’s offense. When confronted with why he chose to bench the veteran, Payton had this to say. “This is about now. This is about trying to get our eighth win. And we’ll go from there.”
After the season, the Broncos will have some major decisions to make in terms of the future of this team. The roster is talented enough to make the playoffs, but can Russell Wilson lead them there? If they believe the answer to be no, they’ll likely release him. That would cause Denver to be confronted with an 85 million dead cap number, which would be the highest in league history.
It would also force Russell Wilson to find a new home, but where could he go? In this article, we’ll cover a few destinations that could covet the Super Bowl champ.
1. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons nearly have it all offensively. A dominant offensive line, intriguing young weapons including Drake London and Kyle Pitts, plus a stud running back in Bijan Robinson when used correctly. While many thought this core could lead them to an NFC South title and a playoff birth, they thought wrong. They simply haven’t been able to overcome the below-average quarterback play from both Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heineke. If you throw in one of the game’s best game managers in Russell Wilson, Atlanta could’ve easily won the division this year.
One of Wilson’s biggest downfalls during his time as a Bronco has been the lack of great offensive line play. Atlanta currently ranks 2nd in pass blocking efficiency according to PFF. If Wilson can mesh with the offensive skill positions and scheme, Atlanta would be a great situation for him. With Tampa Bay and New Orleans’ aging rosters, a young Falcons team led by Russell Wilson could surprise people in 2024.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
General Manager Omar Kahn and Steelers fans alike are finally realizing that Kenny Pickett may not be their quarterback of the future. After getting drafted 20th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, he hasn’t shown any parts of his game that are elite or even above average. Pickett has an average arm, is an alright anticipatory thrower and has limited mobility. He can make good decisions but his ceiling looks to be a lower-end starting quarterback to high-end backup.
With the overall standard Mike Tomlin holds the team to, the Steelers should be able to win at least one playoff game every year he’s coaching. That could easily become a reality if they let Russell Wilson take the reigns in 2024. Having both a coach and quarterback that know how to win with a top defense is a recipe for success. He’d also understand the need to feed George Pickens and Diontae Johnson more consistently, something Pickett fails to do.
3. Russell Wilson Las Vegas Raiders
After starting 2023 off on a funky note, the Raiders fired former Head Coach Josh McDaniels and evaluated Antonio Pierce for the interim role. Seven games later, Pierce has turned what looked like a lost season, into a hungry team that’s 4-3 during his time as Head Coach. After last week’s victory against the Chiefs at Arrowhead, it looks like owner Mark Davis might have found something special. It’s still a bit early to say Pierce is the guy, but it would make sense to give him a full year of experience to answer that question.
With Jimmy Garoppolo likely getting cut in the offseason, the Raiders will have a massive gap at the quarterback spot. While Aidan O’Connell has played well at times, he’s simply not a franchise quarterback. He’ll be a nice backup, but should not be the week one starter. It would make sense for Pierce to go for some stability in the position, even if it’s for one year. Getting one of the league’s best game managers could solidify Pierce’s spot as head coach. It’s also known that Russell and his wife Ciara are attracted to larger markets. Las Vegas definitely fits that.