Russell Wilson to the Cowboys trade should be a hard no

There are lots of Russell Wilson trade rumors currently making the rounds. But the Seahawks trading Wilson to the Cowboys shouldn’t happen. Dallas is one of the teams rumored to have inquired about getting Russell Wilson and, reportedly, Wilson might be open to going to Dallas.

But for any trade to happen, Seattle would need to get a lot of compensation in return and I do not think Dallas has what Seattle needs. Trading for Dak Prescott along with draft picks would be a mistake for Seattle. Prescott, like Wilson, is expensive (Prescott has a cap hit of $31 million in 2021 and likely isn’t going to sign for much less in his next contract).

This shouldn’t simply be a trade based on emotion and the Seahawks won’t make a move on that. Russell Wilson isn’t going anywhere if that is the situation. If Wilson is traded it would need to be because the Seahawks think they can improve the team for seasons to come. And actually, a haul for Russell Wilson should do that.

But that’s the chance Seattle would take. What they can get for Wilson might not be better than simply making Wilson happy and trying to improve the offensive line. Seattle isn’t making the Super Bowl recently but they aren’t that far off either.

Russell Wilson to the Cowboys?

A trade to the Cowboys doesn’t make Seattle better. While the Cowboys stink lately, trading Wilson to them will make them better and that means whatever draft pick the Seahawks might get back from them in the first round would be lower.

This likely means Seattle takes those lower first round picks and trades them for second round picks and later round choices. While that might add quality depth to the team it is also unlikely to give them superstars. (Seattle got lucky by drafting D.K. Metcalf in the second round in 2019.)

Dallas might also have some decent veteran help but a lot of them are overpaid so that doesn’t help Seattle with cap space. And if no trade that includes Prescott then who does Seattle play at quarterback? Sure, the Seahawks could ask for two first round picks and maybe cornerback Trevon Diggs for Russell Wilson but even that is nowhere near enough.

Russell Wilson needs to stay with Seattle for many years to come and Seattle needs to find a way to make the offense around him better. Wilson isn’t the problem but offensive line talent is. But if Seattle does entertain trading Wilson, it can’t be to Dallas. That would not be smart.