After an offseason in which Russell Wilson‘s long-term Seattle future suddenly became cloudy, the 10th-year quarterback suffered his first major injury. And he has not played to his usual standards upon return. The Seahawks will finish below .500 for the first time in his tenure.
Wilson is signed through 2023, though the events of this past offseason figure to put him back in trade rumors fairly soon. The decorated passer made an interesting comment regarding his Seattle status ahead of Week 17 as well.
“I know you guys asked Bobby [Wagner] about ‘Could this be your last game?’ this and that and all that. I know for me personally, I hope it’s not my last game,” Wilson said of the prospect Sunday is his last home game as a Seahawk, via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta. “But at the same time, I know it won’t be my last game in NFL. So I’m just focused on the day and getting better today. And so that’s my focus. That’s my goal. I love this city, and I love this moment. I love these guys.”
Wilson, 33, offered this response unprompted, closing out 2021 with more uncertainty in Seattle. The Seahawks have some leverage with Wilson, having signed him to a four-year, $140MM extension in 2019. Wilson also holds a no-trade clause. Unlike Aaron Rodgers, Wilson did not stage a holdout this year. But the Seahawks are 5-10 and, barring a major trade, will not have a first-round pick in April.
Wagner’s comment about his Seahawks future centered around his $20.35MM cap number in the final year of his contract. The team is, however, projected to hold more than $55MM in cap space — a top-10 figure leaguewide. But, after the Seahawks entered this past offseason after a 12-4 season, they have bigger questions about their future a year later.
Pete Carroll‘s status may be somewhat in question, given this disappointing season coming after a slew of Wilson offseason headlines, but the 12th-year Seattle HC signed an extension barely a year ago. Carroll is locked up through 2025. The 70-year-old coach is also not viewed as ready to step away on his own accord, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. While this is Carroll’s first 10-loss season at any level since his first Jets slate in 1994, Breer adds ownership is not pleased with where the Seahawks football operation stands presently.
After Wilson listed the Raiders, Bears, Cowboys and Saints as teams he would approve a trade to, the Broncos, Giants and Saints appeared on a new list of sorts during the season. Wilson did call the initial report including these new teams a non-story. Nevertheless, how the Seahawks proceed will easily be one of the most fascinating situations to monitor entering 2022.
Indeed, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com says there is a “leaguewide feeling” that Wilson and Carroll will not be together next year. That’s not particularly surprising in light of everything we have heard so far, but as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk points out, Schefter’s report — which includes somewhat vague language — could be interpreted as a renewed attempt by Wilson’s camp to force Seattle’s hand. After all, it was Schefter to whom Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, released the statement last year that Wilson would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for a handful of teams, which is what precipitated the Bears’ efforts to acquire the seven-time Pro Bowler and the rampant chatter about his future.
One way or another, Florio believes the ‘Hawks will make a decision on Carroll before deciding how to handle the Wilson situation.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Not sure I can handle another year of Pete drafting… (ugh)
Don’t worry. You don’t have draft picks.
Ha ha! Good point!
Seattle should tear down in the off season
Russel Wilson to Giants for Jones and Picks
Lockett to Raiders for picks
Bobby Wagner to Dallas for picks
Carlos Dunlap to Green Bay for picks
Why would anyone trade for Jones? He’s not a good QB. Like the rest of the trades.
Jones isnt a make or break part of the deal. Giants acquire Wilson Jones is dealt elsewhere anyways. Seahawks might as well kick the tires on him.
Maybe Seahawks reroute him to Saints or WFT if neither gets a qb in the draft.
Unless the Seahawks decide that they don’t want to trade Wilson within the NFC, only to AFC teams just like the Green Bay Packers insinuated with a Rodgers trade.
Bobby Wagner’s cap hit is $20 mil for a MLB who will be 32 next season. He is a cut candidate.
Lockett just resigned an extension so I doubt he gets traded. D.K. tho might actually holdout or demand a trade if Russ leaves.
Dunlap has no trade value either. Look what Seattle gave up to get him. He is a rotational end in his 30’s.
I agree Russ to NYG. Jones should only be in the trade as a throw in for but leave Daniel Jones out of the deal if it means less picks.
Situational pass rusher still has value. Hes got a cap hit of 6.25 or something next year on a 1 year deal. Could net a 5th or 6th. Even late round draft picks have value for a team like seattle that has found talent the past decade in rounds 4-7
You’d have to give Dallas picks
Dallas says no thanks on Wagner and his $20M cap hit
Honestly, I think Russ is somewhat overrated. He could make the Giants relevant in the news, but I don’t think he makes the Giants good on the field. I know he’s missed some time, but he hasn’t exactly carried a more talented Seattle team to a decent record. Trading picks they should spend building a team feels like it’d be a mistake for NY.
Especially since the reason that he’s having trouble with Seattle is their offensive line being atrocious just like the Giants offensive line. He may block the trade based on that.
Not sure why Miami isn’t mentioned more as a prime suitor for Russ. A clear need for an upgrade at QB (even if Tua will improve eventually), a bevy of draft capital, a dynamic young core of offensive and defensive weapons, a solid O-line (much better than Seattle has given Russ), and a coach with a clear fire for winning (which Pete has clearly lost some time ago). Not even mentioning the desirable locale of South Beach, it’s clear that Miami offers Russ a situation quite similar to what he was drafted into in 2012: a team looking to probe the doubters wrong. If Miami was rumored to be interested in Deshaun, they should jump at the chance to acquire Russ, a proven winner and leader who matches the culture that Flores is looking to build.
Dolphins dont need Russ.
They should take a chance on Drake London in the draft to pair with Jaylen Waddle
They should try to grab a running back in the 2nd. Kenneth Walker, Isiah Spiller, Breece Hall
Drake London 1st
Isiah Spiller 2nd
Bring in Terron Armstead ton play LT bring back Ted Karras to play C.
Russ has done his part in Seattle, why waste the last of his prime/his later years on an under 500 team.
Chicago stands out as a likely suitor considering Russ listed them in the past. Plus, It looks very likely Nagy and Pace will be gone so he may also have a say in who the bee coach could be. Plus, if they get a new GM it wouldn’t surprise me if he doesn’t like Fields and wants Russ.
Doug Pederson I think would be great with both Russ and Chicago.
The only problem is Chicago doesn’t have a first round pick this year.
So my alternative would be the Denver Broncos. Picks wise they have their first but they also have additional second and third round picks this year.
They also have the 4th most cap space currently which gets bigger when Melvin Gordon and Kyle Fuller come off the books at the end of the season.
Denver have a much better side from Russells perspective, they have William at RB, Jeudy, Sutton, Hamler and Patrick out wide and Fant at TE. They also have a good HC, and an experienced OC.
It’ll all come down to how badly he wants out and how much it costs
Denver has a “ good head coach”. Bahahahaha
Considering his conference, lack of QB and plauers getting injured he’s done pretty well. On defence in particular he’s good
I don’t think Denver is a bad fit for him, but I think New Orleans makes the most sense if they can make the cap numbers work. Anything more than a single 1st plus some 2nd or 3rds feels a steep price, though.
They definitely don’t have the cap space and giving Taysom Hill that extension didn’t help
I’d also say Denver has more weapons than the Saints. Sutton Jeudy Patrick Hamler Fant whereas the Saints have Micheal Thomas who refuses to play and the other receivers haven’t even had 1000 years in their careers let alone a season. Obviously they have AK but Denver by far has more options and better options offensively
Denver has the deeper WR group, but N.O. has Sean Payton… and that has to be something Russ would look at, I’d think. Does Wilson want to play for an offensive genius or another defensive head coach? I’m not a huge buyer of the idea that Wilson is at present a top 5 QB, but I get the impression he believes he is. He seems to want to sling the rock 40x a game, and his angst appears to stem from Pete not wanting to play that way. So which coach would you say would be more appealing in his shoes? WRs can be easily acquired.
Sean Payton would be a huge pull, then at the end you kind of contradicted yourself by saying Russ wants to throw and if he wants to throw surely Denver would be better with their options. Whereas NO will run with AK
No contradiction, in my mind. When the Saints had Brees with AK they threw the football frequently, sans Brees’ final year. If they had Russ, I believe it’d be a passing offense again. It probably doesn’t work with the cap, but to me it’s the best on field fit.
Denver does have a nice set of pass catchers, and by no means am I saying it’s a bad fit- but it’s a tough division and I don’t see especially much in the Broncos coaching. Granted they have no real QB to speak of, but I’m skeptical Wilson pushes them past KC.
It isn’t Wilson’s choice of where he wants to go. He is not a free agent. He is under contract and then can be tagged three times by Seattle. He can’t simply choose WR or coach that lets him sling it 50 times a game.
You’re joking right? There is a 0% chance Wilson gets moved for anything less then multiple first round picks.
Seems a whole lot like the Matthew Stafford situation from last year
Not sure I would trade a bunch of high round picks for Wilson at this point, as despite his W/L record his play the last few years could best be described as “uneven”.
Not sure what you’re referring too…. Because in 2020 he threw for to TDs (most in his career) and had his 2nd highest yardage total.
It is time for Pete to go. He has lost his fire. And hasn’t been drafting well (when not trading picks away, that is).
Wilson’s inconsistencies the last couple years is because, last year, he was playing great but Pete wrenched controls if the offense away from the OC. Their offense was terrible the rest of the season. Pete thinks you should always be a power running team, even if you don’t have the personnel to actually be successful at it. That’s where the Hawks have been the last couple years.
I think Carroll has the same level of job security as Belichick or Reid. He will be a part of the Seahawk organization as long as he wants to be.
He should anyway. Seattle is the west coast Patriots during the Carroll era. Patriots the only team in the NFL with more wins than Carroll during his tenure. I don’t understand why Seattle would be in a big damn hurry to become the Panthers???
Which winning teams in the NFL can’t run the ball and play and defense???
Only those that can gain a turnover edge every week?
Russell Wilson is not getting traded. Why would Seattle trade a top 5 QB for a handful of lottery tickets. I know the news cycle is slow at the end of the year and “year in review” stories run thin quickly, but this is a non-story. Wilson will be in Seattle until his contract is up and then tagged for three years if he doesn’t sign an extension. How many Rashad Penny’s and LJ colliers would it take to acquire Wilson? Keep your picks and your Danny Dimes. We will keep our only franchise QB that we have ever had. Let’s talk about what a wild year 2021 was! More stories on Betty White maybe? its all more interesting than NY Giant super fans coming up with fictitious trades to steal an elite QB for a bust and a pick. BTW this draft class sucks.
I wouldn’t bet your house on it. His words seem needlessly cryptic if there was zero to this. I’m by no means sure he gets traded, but if a small part of him wasn’t thinking of the prospect why even start down the road when he wasn’t asked the question?
It will not be to the Giants if he is, however, unless the Giants are foolish.
He’s not a top 5 QB, though. Mahomes, Rodgers, Brady, Allen & Dak are better. It could be debated that Burrow, Herbert, Stafford and Lamar may be better.
Stafford isn’t even close to Russel Wilson talent wise. Wilson throws the best deep ball in the NFL.
You list a lot of names as “better” than Russ. I guess its subjective, but I’m talking about winning NFL games. You’ll have to go to Payton Manning to find a QB with more wins than Russ in his first 10 years, and Russ will pass Payton if they beat Arizona on Sunday. I’m talking about wins. I know Russ has won so many games that people take it for granted and start talking about no playoff wins Jackson or second year QBs Burrow and Herbert, or for crying out loud Matt Stafford as being a better QB than he is is a joke. I’ll bet my house Russ is not traded. He may run Pete out of town, but he will not be traded. The reason he is complaining in the media is because it is his only move. He is under team control for the next five years with franchise tags. Complaining to the media about taking to many hits is his only leverage, which is why he brings it up. There is nothing else to report on, which is why the reporters keep brining it up.
As a Giant fan, not for Russel trade. Is Russell a better option than Jones hell yes. But Giants need a OL , Edge. Linebackers. Tight end . So all this would get Russel killed. And he has been a great quarter back. For too long , to end up there.
Wilson is the best thing to happen to carroll and the Seahawks franchise probably ever
Not probably, definitely!!