When NFL teams first called the Seattle Seahawks about a Russell Wilson trade, they were immediately rebuffed and informed a blockbuster deal wasn’t happening. One month later, after weeks of drama, the possibility of a league-shifting move could happen.
The feud between Wilson and the Seahawks started early this offseason, when the NFL star went public with his frustrations with the offensive line and the scheme. Wilson’s decision to speak out upset the organization and cracks in the relationship between the organization and its franchise star worsened.
Even after that moment, the situation was fluid and neither side expected a blockbuster trade to be the end result. But it didn’t take longs before things went further south. Wilson provided Seattle with a list of approved trade destinations and The Athletic soon released even more startling information regarding the rift between Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll.
Now, something that once seemed unthinkable could be a realistic outcome based on the latest rumors surrounding the Seahawks.
According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, many in the NFL believe the Seahawks will trade Wilson if another team gets desperate enough this offseason. While general manager John Schneider would prefer not to trade the MVP-caliber quarterback, he is open to the idea under the right circumstances.
This is the latest hint that a seismic deal could be on the horizon. While the Seahawks haven’t done thorough work on quarterbacks who could replace Wilson, the organization seems very open to the idea of moving him. Given the Houston Texans won’t budge and trade Deshaun Watson, Wilson is easily the best quarterback available this offseason.
There is no team more desperate than the Chicago Bears. Both general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy will be fired after the 2021 season if the club doesn’t go far in the NFL playoffs. As of now, the organization is staring down a reality where Nick Foles is under center for Week 1 and Alex Smith might be the best-case scenario from free agency. With either quarterback starting, Nagy and Pace are likely unemployed this time next year.
Chicago also isn’t in a position to land a top quarterback prospect from the 2021 NFL Draft. More than likely, four quarterbacks will be taken within the top-10 picks and Trey Lance won’t make it to the Bears at No. 20 overall. So, Chicago finds itself between a rock and a hard place.
This is the kind of desperation Seattle wants. When jobs are on the line and a team has a talented roster outside of the quarterback spot, general managers can get aggressive. For Pace, this might mean pulling the trigger on a trade that every other general manager in the league would consider ridiculous.
There are also important factors to mention. Wilson wants to play in Chicago, believing the team’s young offensive line and Nagy’s scheme can help him compete for the NFL MVP award and another Super Bowl. The Bears also just tagged Allen Robinson, who would provide Wilson with an outstanding No. 1 receiver. On top of that, Chicago reportedly has the top offer for Watson.
In terms of what it would cost to land Wilson, the price would be staggering. At a minimum, Chicago would need to send its first-round picks for the next three years and that only gets Seattle to answer the phone. For a deal to happen, the Bears would also likely need to send multiple Day 2 picks, promising cornerback Jaylon Johnson and potentially Akiem Hicks.
It would leave the Seattle Seahawks without a quarterback, but they could find a stop-gap option via free agency. With an overhauled defense and tons of draft capital, Pete Carroll could rebrand the team his way under a run-heavy approach. While it might not work out, especially for a team that won’t have its 2022 first-round pick, Seattle seems ready to shake things up.
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