The inevitable divorce between the Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson won’t happen this offseason, but it’s not because both sides aren’t trying.
It’s because both sides aren’t trying hard enough.
The Seahawks have 39 million reasons (the cap hit they’d take if they trade Wilson before June 1) to not trade their star quarterback but the hefty price tag is worth it if it means nipping this fiasco in the bud before it gets messier. The Philadelphia Eagles dealt with a similar situation earlier this year when it decided to take on a NFL record $33.8 million in dead money in order to ship disgruntled passer Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts.
With five quarterbacks potentially going in the first round this year and the Seahawks strapped for picks, Seattle’s best move is to take the hit and deal Wilson for a king’s ransom.
The instability of this relationship is sure to cast a black cloud over the upcoming season, especially coming off a 2020 campaign that ended with a upset loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round. Every perceived slight or bad performance will become food for talking heads and the pressure to part ways will increase to the point where Seattle will lose leverage every day Wilson is on the roster. By dealing Wilson and taking the cap hit, the Seahawks could focus on the future instead of trying to repair a fragile present.
Speculation over Wilson’s future resurfaced in early February when the seven-time Pro Bowler told Dan Patrick “I don’t know if I’m available or not. That’s a Seahawk question.” Later that day, he expressed his frustration in a separate interview over the amount of punishment he’s taken behind Seattle’s porous offensive line:
“I’ve been sacked almost 400 times. So, we’ve got to get better...I’m frustrated with getting hit too much.”
To his credit, Wilson also admitted he “needed to get better, too” and many have cited his penchant for holding the ball too long as a key reason why he’s always under duress.
Still, the 32-year-old isn’t out of line in his criticism of the team’s failure to protect its $140 million investment. Wilson has been sacked at least 41 times in each of the past eight seasons, including a league-leading 48 in 2019. Despite the beating he’s taken, he’s played all 16 games every year since entering the league in 2012. He also led the franchise to its first-ever Super Bowl win in 2013 and was a bad goal-line throw away from going back-to-back.
The drama between Wilson and the Seahawks doesn’t stop at the team’s leaky O-line. An article from The Athletic shed more light on the tension between the two parties, detailing a meeting prior to the team’s Week 11 showdown with the Arizona Cardinals that Wilson allegedly “stormed out” of after his ideas to improve the offense fell on deaf ears.
In the nine games prior to that Thursday night clash with Arizona, Wilson threw for 248 yards or more eight times and was a strong contender for MVP honors. In his final eight games (including the playoffs) he eclipsed that mark just once and failed to reach above 200 yards four times.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, teams have contacted Seattle about Wilson and The Athletic article mentioned the QB’s camp has “broached trade destinations “ with the Seahawks that include the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders. Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, followed up that report by stating his client hasn’t asked for a trade, but if he were to be traded, his actual preferred destinations were the Raiders, Saints, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears (though not in that order).
That wish list is a bit odd, as most of those teams aren't in a better position to contend for a title than Seattle is currently. The Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since 2002, and if it’s offensive input Wilson seeks, good luck getting that from Jon Gruden. The Saints are projected to be $75 million over the salary cap and wouldn’t be able to afford Wilson if or when Drew Brees retires. The Bears don’t have much of a supporting cast to put around Wilson even if they re-sign star receiver Allen Robinson this offseason. As for the Cowboys, head coach Mike McCarthy famously feuded with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay over play-calling and the team is working on re-signing Dak Prescott, who is five years younger than Wilson and has a better rapport with Dallas’ playmakers.
The list of preferred destinations isn’t ideal for Seattle. With the exception of the Cowboys, all of the team’s on Wilson’s wish list are picking in the bottom half of the first round and that probably continues once Wilson suits up for his new team. In nine seasons in the pros, Wilson has never had a losing season. Still, the Seahawks have to be leery of its franchise player already have his eyes on other teams and should act fast to find a team that will meet their demands.
SI.com’s Mike Silver believes any trade for Wilson “starts” with three first-round picks, which is an absurd request for any player not named Patrick Mahomes.
Another reason Seattle should move quickly is the market. While nearly a dozen teams will be looking for new signal callers, several of those spots will be filled by a deep rookie class. Prescott, whether he returns to Dallas or not, fills another void, as well. Marcus Mariota, Jacoby Brissett, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jameis Winston and even Cam Newton will also be in line for starting jobs.
Then, there’s the crown jewel: Deshaun Watson. While the Houston Texans are adamant on not moving their 25-year-old phenom, it’s only a matter of time before the team caves. Once that happens, another Pro Bowler gets added to a crowded field. Making matters worse, Aaron Rodgers will likely enter the fray in the coming years once the Green Bay Packers opt to turn to heir apparent Jordan Love and put the three-time MVP on the block. The Seahawks can’t afford to be left standing in the game of QB musical chairs.
It’s possible Wilson and the Seahawks patch things up, but head coach Pete Carroll's commitment to establishing the run next season combined with accountability concerns and a lack of faith Seattle will fix their turnstile offensive line make this a marriage destined to fail. Additionally, Carroll is signed through 2025 after last year's extension, making it unlikely the team would give him the axe to appease Wilson.
The time has come for both parties to move on. Wilson will be 33 in November, and while that still makes him a young pup in an NFC dominated by the league's elder statesmen Tom Brady (44 in August) and Aaron Rodgers (38 in December), the amount of punishment he takes is bound to shave years off his career. The Seahawks, as a whole, haven't been the same since falling to Brady on the final play of Super Bowl XLIX. The once-dominant defense hasn't been good for years, even as the team has made trades for players like safety Jamal Adams and defensive end Carlos Dunlap. They've ignored improving the offensive line while wasting first-round picks on the likes of Rashaad Penny and LJ Collier.
The Seahawks have just four picks in next month's draft and a number of holes to fill. A Wilson trade, while a tough financial pill to swallow and a sad end to one of the best underdog stories in recent memory, gives the team its best chance to rebuild.
For Wilson, a change of scenery would give him a chance to earn the credit he believes he deserves. His lone Super Bowl win was overshadowed by Seattle's "Legion of Boom" secondary and his goal-line throw to Malcolm Butler the season after has become his most memorable play in recent years. The right situation could help him get back on top and recalibrate his legacy.
The Seahawks don't have a lot of time to make something happen, which is something their beleaguered quarterback knows all too well.
