NFL GM: Sean Payton Wants to Trade Russell Wilson Despite Recent Win

Is Sean Payton as married to Russell Wilson as the Denver Broncos have led us to believe?

According to the NFL rumor mill, the Denver Broncos' 19-17 win over the Green Bay Packers did nothing to change Sean Payton's outlook ahead of the October 31 trade deadline. Entering Week 7, the Broncos had been tapped as being poised to be sellers at the deadline. 

According to The Washington Post's Jason La Canfora, the Broncos have not only "made it obvious" they're open for business, but that at least one NFL general manager claims that Payton would trade quarterback Russell Wilson, if only there were a market for his services. 

Surviving the Packers on Sunday won’t change a thing. New coach Sean Payton, in his first year overseeing the entire franchise, is looking to shake things up and load up on draft picks, with a long road ahead to construct a playoff roster. Who could go? “Who do you want?” asked one GM, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak about internal trade talks. “He’d trade the quarterback right now if there was a market for him.” Wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, both recent high draft picks, have been the center of trade talks since before Payton arrived, and I would be shocked if at least one isn’t moved. “They’ll have to eat money to move Sutton,” said another GM under similar restrictions, noting his $14 million salary. Justin Simmons, a safety some had linked with the Eagles, is another hot name.

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I believe that the Broncos' horrendous 1-5 start was a reality check for Payton, who likely hoped the roster he inherited would be enough to at least compete in Year 1 in Denver. Alas, a combination of coaching incompetence (Vance Joseph), injuries, and a talent-deficient roster saw the Broncos limp out of the 2023 gates. 

Payton sees the writing on the wall, sure, but it remains to be seen just how keen he is to trade away young talent this season, which would all but signal the raising of a white flag. Not really Payton's style to give up the ghost halfway through a season. 

Of all the players that have been linked in the rumor mill, Jeudy is the one I expect to be dealt by November. But that's assuming the Broncos receive an offer they like for Jeudy. Payton won't just give him away, Jeudy's increasingly erratic behavior notwithstanding. 

As for Wilson, it's clear that he no longer has the wherewithal to elevate a roster alone. That's what defines a "franchise quarterback" — a player capable of covering roster holes and making the talent around him better. 

If Wilson was ever such a player, that ship has obviously since sailed. The Broncos could win with him, but only under ideal circumstances where the defense, special teams, and offensive supporting cast are firing on all cylinders. 

The Broncos don't have the talent to be that complementary across all three phases, which is why Wilson has struggled to lead the team to victories. He's simply not good enough to put a team on his back anymore. 

And the brutal truth is, the Broncos can't get out of his contract. Oh, Payton could release Wilson in the offseason, but it would come with a whopping $85 million in dead salary cap in 2024. With nearly $50M in dead cap the following season.

If the Broncos qualify for a top-two draft pick, Payton probably accepts those hits and rips the Wilson band-aid off. If not, it would be hard to justify eating that much dead money while Wilson goes and plays somewhere else. 

For those same reasons, Wilson's value around the NFL is non-existent on the trade market. That contract is an albatross. 

Payton might indeed realize his situation and the likelihood of Wilson being a Bronco next year, which means there's a chance that selling off a few roster pieces now to stockpile draft picks for 2024 and 2025 in order to rebuild the defense and strategically restock the offensive shelves could be the organizational plan moving forward. 

Denver might trade more players than Jeudy, but I'm not as sure as national pundits like La Canfora that Payton plans to strip-sell this roster. Time will tell, with the NFL trade deadline just one week away.

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