Russell Wilson is a top-tier quarterback, but he’s on the wrong side of 30. It was always unlikely that Seattle would keep him long term, and they made an aggressive move to trade him while his value was high. The Seahawks’ future has never looked brighter.
Dan Orlovsky’s 1 Tweet Explains Why the Seattle Seahawks Lost the Russell Wilson Trade. The Seattle Seahawks traded for quarterback, Russell Wilson in a move that was expected to make them contenders again. However, after losing their first two games and looking like a team without direction, it appears that the trade may not have been such a good idea after all.
A blockbuster NFL transaction took place only hours after word leaked that Aaron Rodgers will continue with the Green Bay Packers through 2022. Russell Wilson, the franchise quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, has agreed to be traded to the Denver Broncos in principle.
The structure of the trade, which involves numerous first-round selections, has been revealed by NFL sources. That fact alone makes the Seahawks the loser in this trade, since, as ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky pointed out in a tweet the day before the transaction, Seattle has been terrible at producing first-round choices recently.
Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks has been traded to the Denver Broncos.
The full deal:#Broncos get: Russell Wilson and a fourth-rounder.#Seahawks get: 2 first-rounders and 2 second-rounders, a fifth-rounder, Drew Lock, Shelby Harris and Noah Fant.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022
Since the conclusion of the 2021 season, there has been much rumor that the Denver Broncos were interested in Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Broncos have made a similar move previously with Peyton Manning, and the club is in severe need of a starting quarterback. In fact, Rodgers’ offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, was appointed as head coach this summer.
However, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, Rodgers announced he’ll be staying in Green Bay. Just over two hours later, ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news on Twitter that Russell Wilson is heading to the Broncos.
Wilson’s medical and formal permission are still pending, but for all intents and purposes, the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks quarterback is officially a Bronco.
Denver is reportedly giving Seattle two first-round selections, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, as well as TE Noah Fant, DE Shelby Harris, and QB Drew Lock in exchange for Wilson and a fourth-round pick.
While this is a significant acquisition, ESPN commentator and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky said the day before the trade that it may not be the best for Seattle.
The Seahawks’ draft troubles were discussed on Twitter by Dan Orlovsky.
Since 2016 the @Seahawks have drafted 52 guys
Three people have made the Pro Bowl, one of them is a gambler.
Earl Thomas was the last genuinely excellent first-round choice they made in 2010.
In their division, they have the fourth best roster.
Russ should be adamant about getting out.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 7, 2022
John Schneider, the general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, was hired in 2010. Pete Carroll, the head coach, arrived in the Pacific Northwest the same year. The pair smacked it out of the park in their first few drafts together.
Pro Bowlers such as OT Russell Okung, S Earl Thomas, WR Golden Tate, and S Kam Chancellor were selected in their first round. The next season’s draft yielded Pro Bowlers in the form of LB K.J Wright and CB Richard Sherman. In 2012, LB Bobby and QB Russell Wilson arrived, laying the groundwork for a Super Bowl title squad.
However, the Seahawks’ selections have been poor since 2016.
Dan Orlovsky wrote on Twitter on the franchise’s recent draft history, noting that the team has made 52 draft choices since 2016, with just three of them making the Pro Bowl. Michael Dickson, a punter, is one of them.
CB Shaquill Griffin (No. 90, 2017) and DK Metcalf are the other two players who have played in the NFL All-Star game (No. 64, 2019).
LB Jordyn Brooks (No. 27, 2020), RB Rashaad Penny (No. 27, 2018), TE Will Dissly (No. 120, 2018), C Ethan Pocic (No. 58, 2017), and Chris Carson (No. 249, 2017) are among the Seahawks’ other draft picks.
The Russell Wilson trade provided the Seahawks with a significant amount of draft money. The trouble is that if Schneider and Carroll continue to draft players like they did for the last six years, they may have already lost the trade.
In 2022, what will Pete Carroll and John Schneider do at quarterback?
(L-R) Dan Orlovsky and Russell Wilson | Norm Hall/Getty Images; Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images
Aside from draft history, Pete Carroll and John Schneider, the head coach and general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, must now determine what to do at the most important position in football next season.
The first option is to start a quarterback who is presently on the roster (or will be shortly). That means between three-year veteran Drew Lock of the Denver Broncos or fourth-round selection Jacob Eason of the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. As a starter, Lock has an 8-13 record with 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Eason has only taken five snaps in his career, all of which were passes, and one of those throws was intercepted by the opposing defense.
The next step is to pick a quarterback. Because of the Jamal Adams deal, the Seahawks now control the No. 10 overall selection. With the Russell Wilson trade, Seattle has moved up to Denver’s No. 9 spot.
The whole piece above is about the Seahawks’ recent draft woes, but if they want to take a chance on a top quarterback in 2022, Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett should be available.
The Seahawks can also add a veteran quarterback with part of their nearly $35 million in salary space. Mitchell Trubisky, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, and Teddy Bridgewater are among examples.
Finally, Carroll and Schneider have an out-of-the-box fourth alternative that they may be brave enough to explore. They can combine the few remaining selections from their own team with those from the Denver Broncos to attempt to pull off another blockbuster. Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr, or even Deshaun Watson might be on their way to Seattle.
Trying anything like this would be a risky move. However, as Dan Orlovsky noted, it may be preferable than allowing Carroll and Schneider to utilize the selections.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
Russell Wilson’s $37 Million Contract: Why Trading the QB Is Now Easier for the Seahawks
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