Broncos reveal aggressive offseason after being free of Russell Wilson's $85 million cap hit

The Denver Broncos made a massive mistake a few years ago when they traded a king's ransom to the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson.

Not only did the Seahawks turn the draft picks into a Super Bowl title, but the Broncos were saddled with a massive $85 million dead cap charge after moving on from Wilson a few years ago.

But now, they're free of his $85 million dead cap charge. And as Jeff Legwold of ESPN shared, the Broncos, with this newfound freedom, plan to be aggressive this offseason.

Broncos plan to be aggressive amid $85 million freedom

With all of Wilsons' $85 million cap hit off the books, Broncos CEO/owner Greg Penner said, "I'd say we'll be opportunistically aggressive."

In 2025, the Broncos had around $46 million in dead cap hits. Entering the 2026 offseason, they currently have just $1 million in dead cap. While that number will likely increase due to cuts and other moves, the Broncos are in a much better spot than last year.

While the Broncos won't spend aggressively with no direction, they will have the leeway to spend a bit more this offseason without worrying about the mammoth dead cap charge on their books.

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Broncos fans should get excited about this offseason, as general manager George Paton teased that Denver is going to "push it" this offseason.

Bo Nix is on his rookie contract, and the Broncos are finally free of Wilson's massive cap hit. There's no time like the present for the Broncos, and with a Super Bowl-caliber roster, adding more talent this offseason, especially on offense, is a must.

And with the freedom gained from getting out of Wilson's $85 million dead cap charge, the Broncos will be able to splurge on the right player if they become available and are a scheme fit in Denver.

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