The Seahawks’ foundation may well be stronger than it appeared a few months ago. Late in an offseason in which Russell Wilson was mentioned in trade rumors, the 10th-year quarterback appears comfortably in the fold with his team.
Although Wilson said the list of acceptable trade destinations — Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, New Orleans — his agent revealed was accurate, the superstar quarterback added that he never requested a trade out of Seattle (Twitter link via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta). While identifying prospective trade partners can be considered in the trade-request realm, Wilson attempted to differentiate the two Thursday.
Wilson’s issues with Pete Carroll and the Seahawks’ offensive line came to light this offseason. But the 32-year-old passer said he and his head coach are in a good place and that he engaged in offseason talks with GM John Schneider and team president Chuck Arnold following the trade rumblings, per Condotta (Twitter links). Wilson attributed his winter comments about the offensive line to “frustration” and noted Thursday that he bears some of the blame for the protection issues, Condotta tweets.
Continuing to diffuse the situation, Wilson said he has “always wanted to play” in Seattle and that he would like to stay in the Pacific Northwest for the remainder of his career, Condotta and ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson note (Twitter links). Wilson, whom the Bears attempted to acquire via trade, is under contract through 2023.
The Seahawks gave Wilson input into their offensive coordinator search, which ended with Rams assistant Shane Waldron coming in to replace Brian Schottenheimer, and traded for seven-year Raiders starting guard Gabe Jackson. While Seattle’s offensive front does not look like a top-tier unit, Jackson’s presence should help. The Seahawks also selected a prospective No. 3 wide receiver — Western Michigan’s D’Wayne Eskridge — with their top draft choice.
Through a big-picture lens, this saga may not be finished. But for 2021, Wilson departure drama looks to have ceased. The seven-time Pro Bowler, who informed multiple Seahawks free agents he was not going anywhere, gave no indication any franchise-altering trade will take place in the near future.
Aaron Rodgers isn’t impressed.
In all seriousness, QB’s and athletes in general don’t like how they’re treated unless it’s a contract year.
Teams aren’t as happy with performance outside those years either.
Why does either side sign long term contracts?
Would sports be worse if everyone became a free agent, every year?
Yes
You’re probably right but I bet most players wouldn’t change teams on a given year.
I still think it would be the most fair way of giving out contracts.
I like to see great performance and encouraged though.
Although Wilson said the list of acceptable trade destinations — Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, New Orleans — his agent revealed was accurate, the superstar quarterback added that he never requested a trade out of Seattle
So Russ didn’t ask for a trade. He asked his rep to request a trade?
Wilson is on course to take 500 sacks in Seattle so naturally he would have no desire to leave.
Having watched almost every game Wilson has played he has saved himself from many sacks but has also caused many. He doesn’t like to throw the ball away and scrambles a lot. Scrambling saves sacks but it also gives the DL an advantage. They can see where he is while the OL can’t. The OL needs to be improved he has made it worse especially since the OL was built to run the ball over pass blocking.
Wilson is very much a say what you want to hear guy. I would say the reason he has said so little for this whole time is he has liked the fans behind him. Now he needs the team and OL especially behind him. I guess next contract we will see how much he wants to be here. I also don’t ever believe we will see him take a hometown discount. He wants to own a sport team when he retires. He has a stake in the Sounders and Storm I believe.