NFL rumors have been buzzing about the 2021 quarterback carousel, and in an offseason with so many talented passers available, some NFL teams are even taking a shot on Russell Wilson.
Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford have already been traded, but they won’t be the only quarterbacks on the move. Philadelphia Eagles star Carson Wentz could be moved after Super Bowl LV, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson demanded a trade and others could be on the block.
While there are plenty of intriguing options available, it seems a few NFL teams decided to make a run at Wilson.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, multiple teams reached out to the Seahawks to gauge their willingness to trade Wilson. Unsurprisingly, general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll have zero interest in moving on from one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks and a Super Bowl champion.
No one can blame rival clubs for trying. In May, there were rumors that Seattle offered Wilson to the Cleveland Browns for the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. One NFL coach even suggested this past year that Wilson won’t finish his career with the Seahawks. So, at the very least, you can respect the effort of any general manager who tried pursuing a trade that would shock the NFL world.
It’s the same reason the Los Angeles Rams reportedly inquired about Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer sparked speculation after the NFC Championship Game loss, but the Green Bay Packers have made it clear he is staying. Likewise, Seattle isn’t trading Wilson when its Super Bowl window is still open.
The 32-year-old is still one of the best players in the NFL. While he cooled off his MVP pace from early in the 2020 season, he still finished with a phenomenal 40-13 TD-INT ratio, 4,212 passing yards and had a 105.1 quarterback rating. It was the second straight year he surpassed the 4,000-yard and 30-touchdown mark. Just as impressive, he has a 106-25 TD-INT ratio and 107.2 quarterback rating over the past three seasons.
Seattle is making changes to its offense this offseason, but quarterback won’t be one of them. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, hired away from the Los Angeles Rams, will implement a more balanced attack to fulfill Carroll’s wishes. The backfield might also look different in 2021, given Chris Carson is a free agent.
Wilson and Rodgers are both off the board for quarterback-needy teams, and the Texans are clinging to Watson, even as the situation gets worse. With a Wentz trade just days away and Matt Ryan staying in Atlanta, options are dwindling.
As this later rumor proves, general managers are willing to get creative to find a quarterback upgrade. All it takes is the right offer to come along and suddenly Watson, Derek Carr or another marquee quarterback could be traded.
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