Would the Seahawks Trade Russell Wilson?
The Seattle Seahawks 2021 season did not end the way they expected. Seattle started the season very well, having won their first five games. Seattle slipped up a bit but still dominated in the NFC with a record of 12-4 and an NFC West division title. This season the NFL added an extra playoff team eliminating the two teams’ first-round bye week to just one team, leaving Seattle without the opportunity for a first-round bye behind the 13-3 Green Bay Packers. Seattle played the Los Angeles Rams in a wild-card game and struggled with offense and defense, losing 30-20 at home.
Top of his Game
There is no question that Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Wilson got off to an incredible start in 2020 and was considered a top MVP candidate. Wilson’s production dipped at certain points of the season, but he continued to be the driving force of Seattle’s offense. Wilson totaled 4,212 passing yards with a career-high 40 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in 2020. The Seahawks wide receiving core with playmakers like DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett were main targets for Wilson, but declining tight end Greg Olsen and a running back room filled with injuries made things difficult.
ENJOYING KNUP SPORTS NFL NEWS ARTICLES? Click the link here for more NFL news coverage!
Protecting Wilson
As a leader of the Seahawks and a vocal NFL personality, it seems that Russell Wilson has had enough of the constant pressure and lack of time in the pocket. Russell Wilson has been sacked a total of 394 times throughout his nine-year career. On average, Wilson has been sacked slightly over 43 times per season which is a very high number. To put things in context, Brett Favre played in the NFL for 20 seasons and was sacked an NFL record 525 times, and Tom Brady enters his 22nd NFL season begging sacked 521 times.
At this rate, Wilson is on pace to shatter the record for most sacked quarterback, and his body has taken a beating.
“Like any player, you never want to get hit,” Wilson said.
Wilson is one of the more mobile quarterbacks who has also avoided quite a few sacks over his time as a Seahawk.
“That’s the reality of playing this position; ask any quarterback who wants to play this game. But at the same time, it’s part of the job and everything else. I think that the reality is that I’ve definitely been hit. I’ve been sacked almost 400 times, so we’ve got to get better. I’ve got to find ways to get better too.”
Wilson is one of the more humble players and a very good player off the field. Winner of the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year award, Wilson knows that he cannot blame only his teammates for all of the sacks but also himself for holding onto the ball for too long at times.
What Will Seattle Do?
During the offseason, trade talks have swirled for quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson. Watson, the current Houston Texans quarterback, has requested a trade, but Russell Wilson simply voiced his frustration which got teams to call the Seahawks to see just how much they would need to give up to land Wilson. People around the NFL expect the price for Wilson to be no less than three first-round picks which would be an enormous haul for a top quarterback.
“I’m frustrated [about] getting hit too much, I’m frustrated with that part of it, at the end of the day, you want to win,” Wilson said.
With free agency and the NFL draft approaching, it would be wise for the Seahawks to invest in help on the offensive line to keep Russell Wilson happy and off the turf.
Not to mention the Seahawks play defensive star Aaron Donald twice a year as he is on division rival the Los Angeles Rams. Russell Wilson is at the top of his game, and Seattle’s offense would take a significant step backward if Wilson were traded.
