The Denver Broncos are finally nearing the end of the financial hangover from the Russell Wilson era - and that’s big news in the Mile High City.
Two years ago, the Broncos made the bold (and costly) decision to cut ties with Wilson, eating a record-setting $85 million in dead cap in the process. It was the largest dead money hit in NFL history, and Denver chose to spread the pain over two seasons: $53 million in 2024, and $32 million in 2025. That’s a massive chunk of change for a player no longer on the roster.
But now, with the NFL’s new league year set to kick off on March 11, Wilson’s contract will officially come off the books. And for a franchise that’s been trying to reset its identity, that’s a major step forward.
“I think we navigated it well,” said Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner during his end-of-season press conference. “You prefer not to have that kind of dead money on your books because it can be a limiter, but I love the approach we took.”
Penner made it clear: the organization wasn’t going to use the Wilson contract as a crutch. No excuses, just solutions.
“We just looked at it as, ‘We’re going to have some constraints. We’re going to have to be scrappy, and we’re going to figure it out and put a great product on the field.’ I think that we’ve done that,” Penner added.
And credit where it’s due - the Broncos managed to stay competitive despite the financial handcuffs. Now, with that burden nearly behind them, they’re positioned to operate with far more flexibility.
Heading into the offseason, Denver is projected to have somewhere between $25.5 million and $30 million in cap space. That’s not elite-tier spending power, but it’s more than enough to be active in free agency - especially when paired with the team’s nine draft picks this spring.
This is a pivotal offseason for the Broncos. With the Wilson contract finally in the rearview and a fresh batch of draft capital to work with, the front office has a real opportunity to reshape the roster. Whether that means targeting a young quarterback, bolstering the trenches, or adding weapons on offense, Denver now has the financial and strategic flexibility to make meaningful moves.
After years of instability under center and a salary cap weighed down by one of the most expensive breakups in league history, the Broncos are finally back in a position to build - not just patch holes.
And that’s a welcome change for a franchise hungry to return to relevance in a loaded AFC.