Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson could finally win NFL MVP in 2020

Will we finally see Russell Wilson get the respect he deserves, with his crowning as the 2020 NFL MVP? Who knows what this mess of a year will bring for the Seattle Seahawks’ star quarterback…

Since taking over as the Seattle Seahawks‘ starting quarterback in 2012, Russell Wilson has won a Super Bowl, been named to seven Pro Bowls, topped numerous statistical categories, and received zero MVP votes. Yes, you read that correctly. Zero MVP votes for Wilson.

It’s downright tragic.

More accurately, it’s disrespectful. Wilson is (and has been) one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, right up there with Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees and Lamar Jackson. Yet somehow, he continues to be overlooked by non-Seattle fans, the media, MVP voters, and everyone else who has an opinion about professional football.

And no, giving Wilson one of the highest player ratings in Madden ’21 doesn’t make up for the disrespect.

When will the madness stop? Is 2020 the year when Wilson finally gets the recognition he deserves and adds that prestigious trophy to his shelf? Obviously there are many factors that play into earning that illustrious award, so let’s dive into what needs to happen this season to allow us all to hear Wilson’s name called during the next NFL Honors ceremony.

What should Wilson change?

Realistically, Wilson just needs to do what he’s always done. Make amazing throws to his talented receivers, work his magic in the pocket and be the Seahawks’ late-game savior. It’s gotten him to where he is now, so no need to change the recipe. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken.

So that’s it, right? Just let Wilson be Wilson, and the MVP is his? Yeah, not so much.

It’s also going to take work from others within the Seahawks organization.

For starters, Seattle offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer needs to unleash his superstar quarterback. He’s applied a conservative approach since taking the reins in 2018, allowing the Seahawks to continue as one of the NFL’s most run-heavy offenses. They sported the highest percentage of run plays in 2018 (55.5%), and were fifth in 2019 (48.2%). That seems odd when you have one of the league’s best playmakers under center.

Hopefully Schottenheimer can continue the downward trend in 2020, putting the ball in Wilson’s hands more often. That should not only lead to more points on the board and more wins, but also more MVP votes for Wilson from those who focus far too much on stats.

What about the blocking?

The Seattle Seahawks offensive line also needs to do a better job of keeping Wilson on his feet. Last season, Wilson was tied for the league lead in times sacked with 48. It’s not just last year, though. Since 2015, he’s been in the Top 5 in terms of times sacked every season. Knowing that, it’s rather impressive that Wilson has yet to miss a single game in his NFL career.

Unfortunately, the odds don’t seem to be in his favor that the trend will be bucked in 2020.

According to Pro Football Focus’ annual preseason rankings, the Seahawks head into the 2020 campaign with the league’s 27th-ranked offensive line. Duane Brown is a stable blindside blocker, but Mike Iupati is trending downward, Justin Britt is gone and an inexperienced youngster will likely start at right guard. Not exactly an inspiring situation for Wilson and his ability to stay upright.

With that said, things could turn around (at least slightly) in 2020. A healthy Britt could return soon, and there are high hopes for 2020 third-round pick Damien Lewis. Brandon Shell was signed this offseason and could take over at left guard, where he previously had success with the New York Jets. Things could be better, but they could also be worse.

This group stepping up and keeping Wilson protected will be paramount to the Seahawks’ success in 2020, as well as the star gunslinger’s MVP hopes.

Can his supporting cast shine bright enough?

Let’s be honest — MVPs aren’t made all by themselves. We’ve already discussed how Schottenheimer and the front five can help Wilson’s chances. The last point I want to touch on is Wilson’s weapons making the most of the opportunities he presents to them.

We already know what Tyler Lockett can do, so I’m not too concerned there. As for D.K. Metcalf, I think we’re all hoping he takes a big step forward in 2020. We already saw the potential he possesses, but we also witnessed too many rookie mistakes and missteps. The ceiling is sky-high for this kid, but he has to become a reliable option for Wilson this season if the signal caller has any hope of earning his first MVP vote.

It also wouldn’t hurt if a role player like Phillip Dorsett, John Ursua, Freddie Swain or another free agent addition became a consistent contributor on game days.

The Seahawks also need someone to step up and shine at tight end. Greg Olsen was signed to fill the role, but he’s getting up there in age (35) and saw a significant decline in production last year. Will Dissly is back, but is coming off a season-ending injury and will continue to be a health risk until he proves otherwise. If they don’t deliver, can someone like Colby Parkinson, Jacob Hollister or Tyler Mabry (a training camp breakout) step up and get the job done?

Realistically, it doesn’t matter who answers the call. Russell Wilson just needs a playmaking tight end who he can rely on when defenses have Lockett and Metcalf under control.

So… just give him the MVP now?

It’ll be interesting to see how things play out for Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. The outlook is positive at this moment, with many opining that they’ll find their way to the playoffs — potentially as NFC West champs. If that’s going to happen, Russell Wilson will likely deserve much of the credit.

The hope is Wilson can at least get his first MVP vote, but the ideal would be much more than that. As we’ve learned, anything (and I mean ANYTHING) is possible in 2020.

Yes, Wilson can finally win the NFL MVP award in 2020 with some help. Will he? TBD.