In order to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024, the Denver Broncos must maintain quarterback stability.
There is no simple solution for what the Broncos must do to improve under centre before next season. Boomer Esiason, an NFL on CBS pundit, may offer a remedy to Denver’s chronic quarterback problem.
During an interview with Denver Sports’ Andrew Mason, Esiason mentioned Cincinnati Bengals backup Jake Browning as a candidate for the Broncos.
“Take Jake Browning of the Bengals, for example. Came out of nowhere. And I had a fantastic year replacing Joe Burrow,” Esiason told Mason in a February 13 post on X. “Could that be a player the Broncos would consider? Because he would be a less expensive player, and you could form a better team around him.
How much would it cost to acquire Browning from the Bengals this offseason?
When Burrow sustained a season-ending injury in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati appeared to be done. Browning stepped in and almost salvaged the Bengals season.
With Burrow out for seven starts, Browning completed 70.4% of his throws for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The Bengals went 4-3 with the University of Washington product, but ended last in the AFC North despite a 9-8 record.
While Browning may be effective under head coach Sean Payton, his status is a concern, as Mason pointed out.
“For the Broncos to get Browning, they’d have to trade for him,” Mason wrote for Denver Sports on February 13. “Browning is slated to become an exclusive-rights free agent, which means that if the Bengals offer him a conventional, minimum contract for his experience, he must sign it or not play. Thus, Cincinnati has all of his rights.”
Cincinnati may also be unwilling to leave with Browning, who kept the ship afloat and ran the offence well.
Since being taken first overall in the 2020 NFL draft, Burrow has missed 13 games due to injuries. The Bengals are unlikely to trade a strong backup who is comfortable with the offence.
No one in the league expects the Broncos to retain Russell Wilson, according to a report.
Imagining Browning on the Broncos will not assist the team traverse a nightmare of its own making. Wilson’s future in Denver has been scrutinized since Payton was hired in January 2023.
ESPN analyst Jeff Legwold stated that “no one in the league” expected the Broncos to keep Wilson this summer.
“The Broncos have stated several times, most recently during the Super Bowl, that a definitive decision on quarterback Russell Wilson will be made’sooner rather than later.’ And, while almost no one in the league believes the Broncos will do anything other than release Wilson, doing so would result in significant salary cap damage — $85 million in dead money, according to Roster Management System — and an enormous question mark at quarterback,” Legwold wrote on February 15.
According to Jared Koch of Mile High Huddle, Wilson’s deal with the Broncos becomes completely guaranteed on March 17.
Wilson has a $35.4 million cap charge for the 2024 season and would incur $85 million in dead cap if released before June 1st, according to Spotrac.
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