NFL teams reportedly think Russell Wilson trade an 'inevitability' after 2021

Russell Wilson isn’t taking things quite as far as Deshaun Watson, but recent tension between the star quarterback and the Seattle Seahawks could lead to a blockbuster trade before long.

In an NFL offseason that already saw Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz traded, NFL teams started calling Seattle about its superstar player. While it seemed desperate at the time, Wilson’s growing frustration with the organization went public days after and tensions between the two sides escalated.

While Wilson and the Seahawks are committed to making things work for now, it seems many in the NFL believe this won’t last for long.

NFL insider Jeremy Fowler appeared Friday on ESPN’s "Get Up," revealing that multiple high-ranking executives across the league believe Wilson will inevitably be traded. While no one in the NFL anticipates a blockbuster trade happening this offseason, that includes the quarterback himself. Once the 2021 season ends, though, things get murky.

This isn’t the first time Wilson’s name has come up in trade discussions. The Seahawks reportedly offered him for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and there was a belief even before this offseason that Wilson won’t finish his career in Seattle.

The 32-year-old quarterback has already won a Super Bowl and is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, but he wants to elevate himself into the conversation with the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. So, after years of playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, Wilson voiced his displeasure with the number of hits he takes and how conservative head coach Pete Carroll’s offense is every year.

It’s a situation that feels somewhat similar to the circumstances in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers expressed uncertainty about his future with the team, sparking trade rumors a year after the Packers drafted Jordan Love. Some in the organization seem open-minded to moving the future Hall of Famer, but he will not be traded in 2021.

The Seahawks can make a run at the Super Bowl next season, taking advantage of another year with an elite quarterback. After that, if the team falls short once again, it will likely create an even bigger rift. At that point, Wilson may turn his soft approach regarding potential landing spots into an outright trade demand.