The Seattle Seahawks loss to the Rams on Tuesday night effectively signified the end of the Seahawks 2021 playoff hopes. Does it mean the end of the Russell Wilson era as well?
The path to the postseason is now extremely convoluted, and we should not expect to see the team entering the playoffs this year. With that being said, it’s time to face the offseason. I expect to see a big change, or multiple big changes, coming this year.
The John/Pete/Russ regime is over in my mind, after the group hasn’t reached a conference title game since the 2014 season, and things will look different for the Seahawks next season if the front office and team ownership are willing to embrace change.
3 potential Russell Wilson trade packages if Seattle wants to overhaul the team
It’s not a bad thing. This core won Seattle a Super Bowl in 2013 and came within a few feet (and a very bad play call) of a second title. With that being said, Russell Wilson walking away after this season brings benefits to both parties in the deal.
The Seahawks get a chance to get younger at quarterback and bring in a prospect who hasn’t peaked yet, and Russell Wilson gets to move on to another organization where he feels he can chase another Super Bowl more effectively. I believe that we shouldn’t hold onto Wilson just because the Seahawks won a Super Bowl with him. Let’s use his trade value to start a new era of Seahawk football.
Two trades to remake the future
I know that Wilson’s play has gone a bit downhill especially since returning from the finger injury, but he’s still worth more than 2 first-round picks. I just am not sure he’s worth 3 first-rounders anymore. In this trade, Seattle gets a cluster of excellent picks in this year’s draft to work on building the offensive line and defense. The Eagles practically give Hurts away to acquire Wilson, which is feasible knowing that the Eagles don’t have a lot of faith in Hurts. He begins 2022 as Seattle’s starter, and if 2022 shows that he isn’t the man for the job, the Seahawks look for a replacement quarterback in the 2023 draft. After all, there isn’t near as much QB talent in the coming draft.
If the Seahawks look to acquire the cream of the crop in terms of draft capital, New York is the ideal trade partner. Trading Russ to the Giants could result in two top-6 picks which would be great. The Seahawks could then shoot for top tackle prospects Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu, or attempt to get Derek Stingley Jr. should DJ Reed leave in free agency. While Daniel Jones has a significantly limited ceiling, you never know what he would do on a completely new team. I think it would be worth a shot given the top-line draft capital the Giants have to offer.
Defense wins championship
With Bryan Mone and Al Woods neither likely to return for 2022, it would seriously benefit the Seahawks to add a dominant interior pass rusher like Allen, who has 8.5 sacks so far this year and nearly 30 QB hits. The added piece costs the Seahawks their second-round pick next year, but they still end up with two firsts, a second and the incredible Jonathan Allen. The downside to this deal is in two things: a 2023 first-round pick is worth roughly a 2022 second-round pick, and the Football Team doesn’t send us a quarterback to give a chance to. The Seahawks would have to look to free agency, make a separate trade, or select a QB in the draft in order to field a starter for next season.
Things to keep in mind
Obviously, the regular season has 3 games to go, meaning that all the draft picks listed in these trades may end up being worth more or less. Also, understand that if Russell Wilson goes out and lights the field up in the final 3 games he may be worth just a smidge more. Conversely, if he continues to play like he did against the Rams on Tuesday, he may pull in less trade value. Finally, remember that Russell Wilson has to okay a trade to whichever team ends up wanting him most.
I love Russell Wilson just as much as the next Seahawks fan, but I will not go into this offseason with a mind clouded by past success. This organization shouldn’t either. Let’s grasp an opportunity to enter the next era of Seattle football instead of holding on to Wilson long enough that he isn’t worth anything.