Russell Wilson inks long-term deal with Denver Broncos
Quarterback Russell Wilson signed a five-year $245 million contract extension with the Denver Broncos on Thursday, giving him the third highest-paid contract in the NFL currently. Wilson was traded this offseason from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos, with the expectation that the Broncos would give Wilson a long-term deal. The contract will include $165 million guaranteed and will go through the 2028 NFL season.
Wilson still has two years left on his current deal, as his cap hit will remain $24 million and $27 million for the respective years until it jumps to $49 million once his new deal kicks in. Wilson is 33 now and will go until he is 41 years old.
Trade To Denver
The Seahawks traded Wilson after months of speculation and back-and-forth rumors. Just a week before being traded, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that there was no intention from the organization to trade Wilson. However, obviously, the tension became too much, and Seattle found a Suitor with the Denver Broncos.
In March of this offseason, the Seahawks traded Wilson and a fourth-round pick to the Broncos for two first-round picks (with one being number nine overall in the 2022 NFL Draft), two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Shelby Harris.
Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Odds
Wilson has given the Seahawks organization and their fans many great memories, as the quarterback led them to two Super Bowl appearances in his time with Seattle, winning Super Bowl XLVIII ironically against the Denver Broncos. Wilson had never won the Seahawks less than nine games in a season in his entire career before last season. The Seahawks Super Bowl odds went from +3500 to +25000 when they traded Wilson away, a testament to how valuable he was to the franchise.
Denver Broncos Super Bowl Odds
Russell Wilson has skyrocketed the Denver Broncos Super Bowl odds, from the Broncos going from +2500 after news broke that Aaron Rodgers would not be going to Denver and he was staying in Green Bay to now around +1600-1800 for the Super Bowl, eighth highest in the NFL.
The Denver Broncos are coming off of a rough season, finishing with a 7-10 record, and were last in the AFC West. The Broncos looked like a complete team waiting for a quarterback as they were trouting out Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater last season. Wilson is an incredible improvement in the quarterback position, as propels them from the worst odds in their division to now +260 to win the division.
Wilson and the Seahawks had an extremely down year last season, with Wilson missing time with injuries. Last season seemed like an anomaly for Wilson, as he is as much of an ironman there is in the NFL and he is the winningest quarterback in the league through the last 10 seasons. Wilson now gives the Broncos stability in their team, something they have not had since the departure of Peyton Manning. If Wilson plays out his contract in Denver, their Super Bowl odds are going to remain close to the top of the NFL.
