After two offseasons weighed down by significant dead money charges from Russell Wilson’s contract, the Denver Broncos enter the 2026 offseason in a far different financial position. The final accounting on the quarterback’s deal is now behind them, meaning those large, inflexible cap hits are no longer part of the team’s books as they approach the new league year.
In practical terms, the removal of Wilson-related dead money gives Denver a clearer and more predictable salary-cap outlook. For the past two seasons, the Broncos had to shape their roster decisions around the constraints created by that contract, which limited how aggressively they could add veteran talent or structure extensions for key players. Now, with that burden lifted, the front office can approach free agency and longer-term planning with greater flexibility and more options in how it allocates resources across the roster.
The clean slate does not guarantee immediate success, but it does change the landscape for roster construction. Instead of dedicating a substantial portion of the cap to a player no longer on the roster, the Broncos can redirect that space to positions of need, internal re-signings, or future cap management strategies. It also allows the team to be more strategic with contract structures, potentially front-loading or using creative mechanisms that were harder to employ when the dead money figure was dominating their financial picture.
For the coaching staff and front office, this offseason represents an opportunity to more fully align the roster with their current vision. Without the financial drag of past decisions, Denver can more readily pursue players who fit its schemes and long-term trajectory. While the organization still faces the usual challenges of competition for talent, development of younger players, and maintaining cap health over multiple seasons, the conclusion of the Russell Wilson dead money era marks a notable turning point in the Broncos’ efforts to retool and move forward. Entering free agency in 2026, Denver does so with a clearer cap sheet and the ability to plan without the shadow of that contract hanging over the roster.
