The Denver Broncos are expected to make a huge move this week that, frankly, won’t be all that surprising.

Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Broncos are expected to release quarterback Russell Wilson as early as this week.

This report comes shortly after coach Sean Payton made a comment about “this next one (QB)” being the right one, heavily implying that the decision to move on from Wilson has been made weeks in advance.

The reason why it took so long for Denver to release Wilson is possibly because they were waiting for a trade partner. However, per Broncos general manager George Paton, there haven’t been any serious suitors.

This release news shouldn’t come as much of a shock to Broncos fans after Denver shut Wilson down for the final two games of the 2023 season, potentially saving money in the process. When Wilson is finally cut before free agency begins on March 13, his release will carry an $85 million dead cap for the Broncos.

That’s a tough price for a QB-needy team, but it’s clear Denver will try to find their next signal-caller in the 2024 NFL Draft. Top prospects like Jayden Daniels (LSU), Michael Penix (Washington) and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) have all been mocked to the Broncos, though acquiring one of those players might require a trade up on Denver’s part.