Russell Wilson wants to play for a team that is willing to build around the superstar quarterback, even if it means getting traded. While that’s music to the ears of teams like the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers, the latest NFL rumor might be a blow for their chances.
When clubs first approached Seattle about a blockbuster deal, the Seahawks made it known there were no plans to trade him. After Wilson went public with his frustrations about the offensive line and head coach Pete Carroll, things got complicated. Suddenly, Seattle started listening to offers and a move became increasingly likely.
Despite the increasing drama between the two sides, Wilson seems to know exactly where he is going to play in the 2021 NFL season.
On Sunday’s "SportsCenter," NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that Wilson still doesn’t expect Seattle to trade him this offseason. Furthermore, the Seahawks front office remains opposed to moving him unless they received an unprecedented offer.
There are multiple factors at play, all likely dictating Wilson’s return to Seattle next season. For one, trading Wilson would come at the worst possible time financially. The NFL lost $4 billion in revenue this past season, causing the salary cap to drop for the first time in a decade and leaving the Seahawks with little financial flexibility. Trading Wilson would leave the team with a $39 million dead-cap hit, all for a star quarterback who wouldn’t even be on their roster.
Seattle also doesn’t have a plan in place to replace Wilson. The free-agent market offers Ryan Fitzpatrick, Alex Smith, Andy Dalton and Mitch Trubisky. Not only are each of those options drastically steep downgrades from an MVP-caliber passer, but they can’t even be counted on to start for a full season.
Trading Wilson, even if the return of draft capital is immense, would still leave the Seahawks with other problems. Another issue, the team already sent its 2022 first-round pick to the New York Jets for Jamal Adams. If a blockbuster deal happened, Seattle might find itself at the bottom of the NFL standings and not even having a top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
That’s what makes a trade so unlikely this offseason. The front office has enough cap space to find upgrades along the offensive line. In fact, they can create even more room and guarantee Wilson’s return by automatically restructuring his contract this spring.
It doesn’t solve the issues between Wilson and the organization. He isn’t happy about the amount of power Carroll has in the building and wants the team’s offensive philosophy changed. Given Seattle just signed its head coach to an extension, the Seahawks seem to have a greater commitment to Carroll than they do to Wilson.
Don’t expect Wilson to be traded in 2021, for a variety of reasons. Once 2022 rolls around, though, it would be a surprise if the star quarterback isn’t moved within the next year.
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