I've been trying to argue about 2025 on a different message board and have been rebuffed. They think he's going to sign for the minimum in 2024 and that's it.
What I do get frustrated with are the people who know he has options past just accepting the league minimum but want to say he's not in a position to make any such demands.
But how many options does he actually have?
By my count there are seven clear 2024 starter openings (CHI, NE, WAS, ATL, DEN, MIN and LV). Plus two more situations that are "competitive" (PIT, NYG). So that's 9 on the demand side.
On the supply side, there are arguably six 2024 starter-worthy draftees (Williams, Daniels, Maye, McCarthy, Penix, Nix). Plus three more FA (Cousins, Fields, Wilson). And then add two more incumbent starters (D.Jones, K. Pickett).
So that's 11 guys competing for 9 jobs.
Playing devil's advocate, why would any GM give Russ significant 2025 guaranteed money unless or until he actually wins a job for 2024 against some pretty decent (and mostly younger) competition?