Latest On Colts, Commanders’ Carson Wentz Trade
To say the Colts soured on Carson Wentz probably undersells this situation. While Indianapolis landed a reasonable return for its latest one-and-done starter, the team did not play this process coyly.
The Colts’ decision-makers publicly did not commit to Wentz, after Jim Irsay called a meeting in the wake of the team’s end-of-season collapse. The Colts were drifting away from Wentz before those two losses, per The Athletic’s Zak Keefer, who adds in an expansive piece the former No. 2 overall pick’s leadership qualities — or lack thereof — bothered the team to the point it could not count on its recent hired gun.
Well aware of the Colts’ course change, Wentz attempted to meet with Irsay in the past month. Irsay declined that meeting, Keefer reports, effectively ending the Wentz era before the team’s Wednesday trade with Washington. The Wentz deal leaves the Colts as a clear have-not at quarterback, but the team steadfastly abandoned ship after one season. Whomever Indianapolis starts in Week 1 of next season will be the sixth different passer to open a Colts season in the past six years.
The Colts did get the Commanders to pay up, relatively speaking. Washington initially offered fourth- and sixth-round picks for Wentz, Keefer notes. Indianapolis moved the terms to two thirds — the 2023 third can move to a second based on playing time, similar to the first-rounder exchanged in 2021’s Colts-Eagles swap — and a swap of second-round picks. The Colts now hold the No. 42 pick in the 2022 draft, climbing up five spots. Indy does not have a first-rounder in this draft, having traded it to Philly for Wentz.
Washington had offered three first-round picks for Russell Wilson, per Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan (on Twitter). The Commanders offered at least that, per the Washington Post’s Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala, but the Seahawks traded Wilson to the Broncos. Washington let it be known it was seeking a veteran quarterback, and while Deshaun Watson was also on the team’s radar, it pulled the trigger on the Wentz trade. Indeed, Wilson refused to waive his no-trade clause for the Commanders, Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com tweets. By all accounts, Wilson had zeroed in on Denver this offseason.
As for Wentz’s Colts fit, Keefer adds the franchise’s issues with the sixth-year veteran began before Week 1 of last year. A lack of leadership and a resistance to hard coaching — a complaint mentioned in the fallout from Wentz’s Eagles run — invited early Colts doubt about Wentz. Irsay had also expressed frustration about Wentz’s refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Wentz landed on the reserve/COVID list before the season and ahead of Week 17. Although Wentz finished the season with a 27-7 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio, he topped 200 passing yards just twice in his final eight games and ended the season with a career-low 4.3 QBR against the Jaguars.
Seahawks Interested In Deshaun Watson
Although Deshaun Watson‘s 2022 availability is very much in doubt, another team is set to enter the mix for the embattled Texans quarterback. A day after trading Russell Wilson, the Seahawks are interested in acquiring Watson, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com reports.
The Seahawks obtained two first-round picks, two seconds and a fifth for Wilson, whom the Broncos landed to finally fill their quarterback void. The Broncos were not believed to be interested in Watson after his sexual assault and sexual misconduct allegations surfaced last year, but other teams remain in the mix. After the Dolphins bowed out, the Panthers and Eagles have been connected to the Pro Bowl talent. And the Seahawks now have some additional resources to pursue a new starter. The Texans have not reduced their asking price, eyeing three first-round picks and more assets.
[RELATED: Dolphins GM Shuts Door On Watson Pursuit]
Watson, 26, is set to appear before a grand jury Friday, which will also feature developments in the quarterback’s civil cases. An indictment would mean Watson’s football career will again slide to the back burner. A stay on the commissioner’s exempt list would likely follow, opening the door to the prospect of multiple lost seasons for the one-time Houston centerpiece player. Even without an indictment, it is hard to imagine the passer avoiding a lengthy suspension in 2022.
Watson’s off-field issues have not stopped teams from entering the fray. With Wilson and Aaron Rodgers off the trade market, he is by far the biggest name available. The Panthers have been connected to Watson for over a year, and the quarterback-needy team discussed a deal with the Texans before the 2021 trade deadline. The Eagles also looked into Watson extensively last year. Watson did not waive his no-trade clause for anyone but the Dolphins, however. Now that they are out of the picture, he will need to reconsider other options. The Seahawks being a new suitor adds intrigue to this complex situation. The Commanders were also interested in Watson, per Wilson, but they have since traded for Carson Wentz.
Seattle used the same starting quarterback for all but three games over the past 10 years. Wilson made nine Pro Bowls and took the team to two Super Bowls and eight playoff brackets. Only one season elapsed between the Matt Hasselbeck and Wilson eras, making the current circumstances rather unusual for one of the 21st century’s most successful franchises. From this angle, it makes sense the Seahawks would pursue Watson. The Broncos included Drew Lock in the Wilson trade, but the Seahawks will surely aim higher. It appears they are willing to gauge Watson’s interest.
Watson was connected to Minnesota and Tampa Bay as destinations, though not much has emerged on those fronts in recent weeks. Seattle joins those teams in having impact wide receivers and having made recent postseason appearances, and the team plays in a division that houses Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray and a 49ers team that just ventured to the NFC title game. With just Lock in the picture for now, the Seahawks are well off the pace.
Seahawks To Trade Russell Wilson To Broncos
9:57pm: Wilson has signed his no-trade provision and passed his physical, making the deal official on his end, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The other players involved in the trade still have to take their physical.
12:46pm: The Seahawks have agreed to trade Russell Wilson to the Broncos, as NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The deal will see multiple draft picks go to Seattle, plus quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, and tight end Noah Fant (Twitter link). 
Details are still emerging, but when all is said and done, the deal will see three players (Lock, Harris, and Fant) go to Seattle along with two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick. The Broncos, meanwhile, get Wilson plus a Round 4 choice (Twitter link via Jay Glazer of FOX Sports). Even when accounting for Wilson’s talent and accomplishments, it all adds up to a solid haul for the Seahawks.
The Seahawks have been at odds with their star quarterback for quite some time. Now, after years of speculation, they’ve finally turned the page. The Broncos, meanwhile, have a Hall of Fame worthy quarterback for the first time since Peyton Manning‘s retirement.
Previously, head coach Pete Carroll said that the Seahawks had “no intention” of moving Wilson. Ultimately, however, Wilson wanted a new start. The Seahawks also get an opportunity at something of a clean slate. Wilson’s $35MM-per-year contract wasn’t necessarily outsized, but it was a blocker on their books. Now, Carroll & Co. can reshape the team as they see fit — perhaps with a QB with less gripes about the rest of the roster.
“At this time of year, there’s conversations about everybody, and it’s commonplace for us to have conversations with teams about all of the players, particularly marquee players,” Carroll said recently. “That’s not changed. It’s been the same every year. It’s the same…We have no intention of making any move there. But the conversations, [GM] John [Schneider] has to field those, he always has. But nothing specific.”
Wilson has had his eyes on the Broncos for a while, dating back to his four-team list of acceptable trade destinations. Still, in interviews, the 33-year-old tried to slow the rumor mill down.
“I’ve been fortunate to be able to play ten amazing years in Seattle,” Wilson said roughly three weeks ago. “My hope and goal is to be back there and keep winning there. That’s the vision, that’s the goal. That’s always been it, never been anything different.”
Wilson has been connected to a number of teams this year, including the newly-crowned Washington Commanders. They were said to have sent a “strong offer,” though it’s unclear if they approached the Broncos’ mega-package. Wilson, of course, holds a no-trade clause, so it’s possible that the Broncos had the second-best offer en route to the winning bid.
The Broncos also had the cap room to accommodate the deal, unlike some of the other teams tied to Wilson. Heading into today, they had $41.999M in cap space. So, even before factoring in Lock and Harris, Denver had the room necessary to take on the deal.
The Broncos may agree to give Wilson a brand-new deal as a part of the trade. So far, we’ve yet to hear any word on that front. For now, they’ve got the superstar under contract for two more non-guaranteed years.
Seahawks To Release LB Bobby Wagner
The Seahawks are cleaning house. The team informed eight-time All Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner that he’ll be released, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Seahawks To Trade Russell Wilson To Broncos]
Wagner had spent his entire career in Seattle, joining the organization when he was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft. He came off the board a round before future teammate Russell Wilson…who, of course, was traded to the Broncos earlier today. Wagner and Wilson were previously the two longest-tenured members of their team.
Wagner quickly established himself as a key member of the Seahawks defense, starting 15 games as a rookie. He started all three playoff games during the Seahawks Super Bowl-winning 2013 campaign, and he then proceeded to go on an eight-year run of Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. During that stretch, Wagner averaged 145 tackles per season, and he’ll leave the organization as the Seahawks’ all-time leader in tackles.
The 31-year-old was still productive in 2021, compiling a career-high 170 tackles to go along with three tackles for loss and three QB hits. However, his $20.35MM cap hit for next season had Wagner admitting that he could be done in Seattle.
“You think about it,” Wagner said in December (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “You think about what the next year looks like and what the future holds because this was a season that I don’t think we all planned for. We didn’t plan for the season to go this way, so obviously there’s going to be some changes and whether or not I’m part of those changes, I don’t know.”
With Wilson gone, it was clear that the Seahawks were pivoting toward a rebuild. This move will save the organization $16.6MM against the cap. He’ll leave behind $3.75MM in dead cap.
QB Fallout: Packers, Rodgers, Broncos, Wilson, Seahawks, Steelers, Panthers
Although the timing is rather conspicuous, the Broncos‘ move to acquire Russell Wilson may not be closely connected to Aaron Rodgers‘ decision to stay with the Packers. Denver did not engage with Green Bay on Rodgers this offseason, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports. The Broncos had been connected to Rodgers for nearly a year, when the then-disgruntled superstar included them on a list of acceptable trade destinations ahead of the 2021 draft. A previous report indicated Denver and Green Bay had trade terms lined up, in the event Rodgers informed the Packers he wanted out, but Schefter’s account would appear to contradict that. It does seem the Broncos were still eyeing Rodgers this year, with 9News’ Mike Klis reporting the team wanted to exit the offseason with either Wilson or Rodgers (Twitter link). After the Combine produced considerable buzz connecting Rodgers to a Green Bay return, Klis adds the Broncos and Seahawks’ Wilson talks accelerated. The clubs had been discussing Wilson for weeks. As such, it probably was not a coincidence both QB headlines occurred within hours of each other.
Here is the latest from an explosive day on the quarterback scene:
- Wilson made noise about his Seahawks situation in 2021, and Schefter notes those comments irked some within the organization. Wilson continued to say he wanted to stay in Seattle, but Schefter adds he planned to revisit some issues he had with the Seahawks at some point this offseason. The perennial Pro Bowler, however, did not try to force his way out of Seattle this year, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. The Seahawks kept Wilson in the loop on their talks with the Broncos, Breer adds. They certainly needed to run it by him, given the no-trade clause included in Wilson’s 2019 extension.
- The Broncos not only topped Wilson’s destination list, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicates they were the only team he wanted to be traded to this year. Denver does not have receivers who have proven as much as Tyler Lockett or D.K. Metcalf, but the team is deep at that position and employs promising running back Javonte Williams. Ex-Wilson Wisconsin teammate Melvin Gordon is on the radar to return as well. Wilson’s agent named the Bears, Raiders, Saints and Cowboys as acceptable trade destinations for his client last year, but the Broncos emerged as a candidate late in 2021. The Broncos passed on Wilson in 2012, taking Brock Osweiler in the second round, but the Colorado Rockies did draft him in 2010.
- Denver will keep one of its two 2022 second-rounders, sending Seattle its own 2022 and ’23 Round 2 picks, Mike Klis of 9News notes. The Broncos will retain the second-rounder they obtained in last year’s Von Miller trade (No. 64 overall). The fourth-rounder Seattle is sending to Denver is a 2022 pick, Schefter tweets. The Broncos also have two third-rounders this year, the latter of which acquired in the Miller deal. Miller is rumored to be back on the Broncos’ radar. Tuesday’s Wilson trade probably will not quiet those rumblings, though Klis suggests the longtime Bronco edge rusher is likely to end up elsewhere (Twitter link).
- The Steelers were connected to Rodgers last week, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes they were not believed to be major players on this trail (ESPN+ link). Bridge-type passers like Jameis Winston, Mitchell Trubisky and previous Broncos starter Teddy Bridgewater are believed to be on Pittsburgh’s radar.
- More than a dozen teams were believed to have contacted the Seahawks on Wilson, per Schefter. The Panthers, who have longtime Seahawks exec Scott Fitterer as GM, were among those to do so, Joe Person of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Carolina is still in the market for a quarterback. Considering the interest the team showed in Deshaun Watson last year, more rumors connecting these two parties figure to surface in the coming weeks. The Panthers remain interested, though Watson’s 2022 availability remains in doubt.
Commanders Offered Seahawks Multiple First-Rounders, Picks In Three Drafts For Russell Wilson
The Seahawks-Russell Wilson era came to an abrupt end Tuesday, with Seattle and Denver agreeing to a monster trade. This arms the Broncos with a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback, filling the position after Denver trotted out a number of starting QBs since Peyton Manning‘s retirement.
But Washington was first connected to making a Wilson offer. The Commanders have made it known they are interested in a veteran passer, and their offer included multiple first-round picks and selections in three drafts, per ESPN.com’s John Keim and the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala (Twitter links). It did not prove to be enough, though the Seahawks likely prioritized moving Wilson out of the NFC. And Wilson’s no-trade clause allowed him to control his destination.
The Commanders asked the Seahawks if they wanted a player to be included in the proposal as well, Keim adds, but Seattle did not propose a counteroffer. The Seahawks had been negotiating with the Broncos on Wilson for weeks, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com notes. Wilson, 33, moved Denver to the top of his destination list, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets. The Broncos did not appear on Wilson’s list of acceptable trade destinations during the 2021 offseason, but a late-season report included them on an amended list of sorts.
While one glaring quarterback need is filled, another remains. Washington still has Taylor Heinicke rostered, but Ron Rivera has made it clear the team wants to upgrade. With Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are off the table, the Commanders could look to Jimmy Garoppolo. They hold the No. 11 pick in the first round, and while this year’s quarterback class has been brushed off for months, Washington sitting behind Carolina, Atlanta and now-QB-needy Seattle will not make it a sure thing the draft’s top QB falls out of the top 10.
NFC West Notes: McGlinchey, Diggs, Rams, Polite
49ers’ offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey is set to play through the fifth-year option of his rookie contact this season. McGlinchey has been a bit of a mixed-bag for the Niners early on in his career. While grading out as one of the league’s better run-blockers, McGlinchey struggled early in pass protection. Just as he was beginning to show some real improvement in the passing game, McGlinchey saw his season come to an end in Week 9 of this past season after suffering a torn quadriceps.
While McGlinchey’s cap hit for 2022 will be $10.88MM, the 49ers have nothing to gain by cutting him, as the fifth-year option for a rookie is fully guaranteed. The team does hold two options to potentially avoid the 27-year-old’s cap hit: they can trade him or extend him. According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, there is a chance that the 49ers sign McGlinchey to an extension in order to create more cap space. They would be betting on McGlinchey coming back strong from his injury, but they seem to feel good about the progress in play he showed before his injury last year.
Here are a few other notes from the NFC West, starting with a note from Seattle:
- After breaking his ankle in Week 17 of the season this past year, Seahawks’ safety Quandre Diggs is expected to be fully cleared for all football activities by June, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Diggs is set to test free agency this offseason and teams will likely take his injury recovery into account. It’s impressive progress for the 29-year-old as his doctors say he is recovering well.
- The Rams are hiring TCU running backs coach/assistant head coach Ra’Shaad Samples as their new running backs coach, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Samples is highly regarded as one of the up-and-coming coaches in football earning his first NFL job at the age of 27. In a corresponding move, assistant head coach Thomas Brown will now be coaching tight ends.
- Edge-rusher Jachai Polite, who spent 11 games with the Rams in 2020 after being cut by the Jets before his rookie season, has made the move to the Canadian Football League. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the former third-round pick signed a contract to join the Toronto Argonauts.
Commanders Send Seahawks ‘Strong’ Russell Wilson Offer
Ron Rivera has made no secret of the fact the Commanders are seeking a quarterback upgrade. The team is not wasting time moving into the trade mix.
Washington sent Seattle a “strong offer” for Russell Wilson, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). His colleague Adam Maya adds that “multiple first-round picks” were involved. The Seahawks have made it known they do not view Wilson as available right now. While the right offer could conceivably change that, Rapoport adds Seattle shut down Washington’s effort to land the 10-year starting QB. Both the Seahawks and Wilson can shut down offers, with Wilson holding a no-trade clause.
The Commanders have been in need for a long-term QB option since Kirk Cousins‘ 2018 free agency exit, having seen injuries (to Alex Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick) and a draft whiff (Dwayne Haskins) derail their post-Cousins plans at the position. A year after making a big offer for Matthew Stafford, Washington intends to take big swings to finally solve this perennial problem. The Commanders offered the Lions their 2021 first-rounder and more for Stafford. They surely sent the Seahawks a stronger proposal.
Washington has “called everywhere” regarding available or potentially available passers, Rapoport tweets. This saga should not be considered over, though this year’s QB trade market has not produced too many fireworks yet. Rivera said this week he wants a veteran to lead his quarterback room, but the team holding the No. 11 overall pick should not be considered out of the mix for one of this year’s top QB prospects — especially if most of the rumored trade candidates are not truly available.
Mentioned in trade rumors for over a year, Wilson was interested in exploring his options entering this offseason. But noise involving the perennial Pro Bowler has not matched the level of 2021, when Wilson’s agent sent out acceptable trade destinations and he addressed certain issues he had with Pete Carroll. It cannot be certain Wilson will be back in Seattle next season, but all the early signs point to it.
Seahawks Want To Re-Sign Geno Smith
In a matter of days, Geno Smith will be eligible to sign with any team in the NFL. Still, head coach Pete Carroll hopes that the quarterback will stay put (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times). 
[RELATED: Mutual Interest Between Seahawks, Penny]
Smith was arrested on suspicion of DUI in January, a potential roadblock to his future prospects. The quarterback has yet to be charged in connection with that incident, however, which may help his standing in Seattle.
“Being arrested brings a taint onto the reputation that is impossible to undo, no matter what really happened,” Smith said in a tweet following the arrest. “I’m asking all of you to hold back on judging me the same as you would do for a friend or family member. I’ll have more to say down the road & ask that you [bear] with me.”
Smith has spent the past two seasons as the backup in Seattle. In 2021, he made four appearances while Russell Wilson was sidelined with a broken finger. Smith was victorious just once in three starts, but he did throw for 702 yards and five touchdowns against just one interception, a major upgrade over his early pro work.
Mutual Interest Between Seahawks, Rashaad Penny
In addition to his role on numerous fantasy championship teams, Rashaad Penny is very much in his actual team’s plans. The former first-round pick’s late-season surge has him on the Seahawks’ long-term radar.
The Seahawks are interested in re-signing Penny, and Pete Carroll said the four-year veteran would also like to stay in Seattle, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Penny’s career trajectory would make these extension talks a bit unusual, but he delivered top-shelf work for the Seahawks down the stretch. That finish puts Penny on the radar to be Seattle’s back of the future — the team’s hope when it made him a surprise Round 1 choice four years ago — especially with Chris Carson coming off neck surgery.
Although Penny missed more time due to injury, he returned to start the Seahawks’ final five games. The San Diego State product’s 7.3-yard average in that span gave him an NFL-leading 6.3 for the season (albeit on just 119 carries) and 749 rushing yards. The 119 carries, however, were a career-high total. Penny was never able to supplant Carson when both were healthy and missed most of the 2020 season after an ACL tear late in the 2019 slate. Penny dealt with calf and hamstring injuries in 2021.
Penny, 26, has missed 31 career games, counting three playoff contests. There still figures to be a “prove it” component to his next contract. The Seahawks did not pick up his fifth-year option in 2020. Penny joins the likes of James Conner, Melvin Gordon, Leonard Fournette, Sony Michel, Marlon Mack and Raheem Mostert as a back on track for free agency.
The Seahawks kept Carson on a two-year, $10.4MM deal last March, but the veteran starter suffered a significant neck injury that limited him to four games. Carson, 27, underwent neck surgery late last year. Due to the void year the Seahawks tacked onto his deal, it would cost the team $3MM-plus in dead money to release the five-year starter.