Russell Wilson decision looms over Broncos' offseason - ESPN

The Denver Broncos have benched Russell Wilson for now, but they eventually will have to figure out the most effective way of breaking up with the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

That will not be simple.

The Broncos face four potential options as a means of moving on from Wilson this offseason:

• The Broncos simply can release Wilson before the fifth day of the new league year in mid-March, thereby escaping the $37 million in additional guaranteed money that would trigger at that time. This would leave Denver with an $85 million dead cap charge in 2024, which would represent the largest dead money charge on one player in NFL history.

• The Broncos could opt to use a post-June 1 designation on Wilson's release, which would split the dead money hits over two years — $35.4 million in 2024 and $49.6 million in 2025. This would be the Broncos' likelier choice if they release Wilson, league sources told ESPN.

A post-June 1 release designation becomes even more likely considering that the Broncos have a number of expiring player contracts in 2025 and currently are slated to have well above $70 million in salary cap space — with some salary-cap websites projecting Denver to have as much as $100 million in cap space — that year, making it much more palatable to absorb some of Wilson's contract in 2025.

Other NFL teams have proven this season that winning can be done with plenty of dead money on their cap. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) and Los Angeles Rams (8-7) both are carrying over $80 million in total dead money against their 2023 salary caps but still are in postseason contention.

• The Broncos' third option, according to league sources, would be a trade. Wilson's contract contains a no-trade clause, giving him the ability