Arbitration Clears NFL Owners of Collusion Over Wilson, Jackson, Murray Contracts

The Denver Broncos' 2022 trade and contract extension with quarterback Russell Wilson have been widely scrutinized following an arbitration ruling and detailed reporting by Pablo Torre. Initially, Wilson and his agent sought a fully guaranteed seven-year, $350 million contract, which would have extended his tenure through 2030, but the Broncos ultimately settled on a five-year, $245 million extension, which Wilson never played under before being released in 2024. Broncos CEO Greg Penner initially advised waiting before committing to a long-term deal, which could have saved the team from a costly contract, but the team proceeded, resulting in $124 million guaranteed over two seasons for underwhelming performance. The NFL Players Association filed a grievance alleging collusion among NFL owners to suppress guaranteed money in quarterback contracts, inspired by the landmark fully guaranteed deal given to Deshaun Watson by the Cleveland Browns, but the arbitrator found insufficient evidence of collusion. Testimonies revealed the Broncos initially expressed willingness to meet Wilson's demands but quickly became reluctant amid ownership changes and league-wide concerns about fully guaranteed contracts. Ultimately, the Broncos avoided a fully guaranteed contract similar to Watson's, but the fallout from Wilson's contract and trade continues to impact the franchise's salary cap and roster decisions.