INDIANAPOLIS — Soon the Denver Broncos will let everyone know their final decision on Russell Wilson.
“Somewhere in the neighborhood of next week,’’ head coach Sean Payton said to open his NFL Combine press conference Tuesday. “There’s a couple of factors here. The cap projections came out (about $13 million higher than expected). We’re further down the road with the (quarterback) draft class, the pro free agents. So I would anticipate it being within the next two weeks.”
This was more a reminder than breaking news. The NFL’s new 2024 league year officially opens in on March 13, or roughly two weeks, with Wilson’s release deadline on March 17.
The Broncos are expected to release Wilson to avoid triggering the $37 million guarantee in 2025. Release or no release, the Broncos will pay $39 million to Wilson in 2024.
The Broncos have been evaluating other quarterbacks, both those who will be available in free agency in two weeks and the draft in late April, and will continue to do so before announcing their Wilson decision.
“It’s really important for us to know the landscape out there,’’ said general manager George Paton in an interview with 9NEWS. “This is a huge decision. It’s important for the coaches, for Sean, the scouts, myself to deep dive into the free agents, the draft market and this is another part of this process.”
One quarterback the Broncos are evaluating is J.J. McCarthy, who in his last college game six weeks ago guided Michigan to an undefeated season and national championship. He is projected to go in the first round and he could be there when the Broncos are scheduled to pick with their No. 12 overall selections.
“He’s a good player, just like seven or eight other quarterbacks,’’ Paton said. “We’re still working through the process. Obviously, he’s a winner. He has talent. Look forward to spending time with him, I think tonight.”
Payton was asked if he looks forward to the challenge of finding the right quarterback for the Broncos.
“We better,’’ he said. “In this league where it’s obviously very competitive and in our division I think it’s vital. I saw this humorous meme the other day where there was a Bronco fan with a shirt on with eight quarterbacks names crossed through it and he’s drinking the quarterback Kool-Aid. Our job is to make sure this next one doesn’t have a line through it.”
Besides their Combine meetings, the Broncos will be represented at the draftable quarterbacks’ Pro Days and some will be brought to team headquarters for more lengthy visits.
“One thing that’s hard to measure is their ability to multitask and process and make decisions,’’ Payton said. “You can visit with someone and they can be intelligent but, man, how quickly can they deliver the information and how quickly can they get through the progressions? Are they accurate?
“There’s some fundamental things we have to see. Sometimes it’s not as difficult as we make it out to be. And then sometimes it’s very difficult. I think we’ll be really good at this and to some degree we’re glad that a lot of people aren’t.”
The Chiefs are.
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