How the pieces the Seahawks got in the Russell Wilson trade are doing

Fans of the Seattle Seahawks had mixed feelings when the franchise traded away the best quarterback of all time in March of 2022.

For such a massive star, a below-average young quarterback, a defensive end on the wrong side of 30, and a promising-but-still-needs-to-prove-himself tight end with some draft picks might not be enough.

However, five weeks into the 2022 NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks may have dodged a Russell Wilson-sized bullet.

Seahawks may have gotten some steals in the Russell Wilson trade

Starting Left Tackle Charles Cross is a revelation

Although it took trading away the franchise quarterback to receive help on the offensive line to protect the team quarterback, it looks like it was well worth it with Cross holding it down on the line. With his “heavy hands”, he has protected quarterback Geno Smith and provided some positivity when talking about the previously-lowly Seahawks offensive line.

Boye Mafe started against the Saints and could be getting more run

Outside linebacker Mafe started in Week 5 against the Saints and could be getting more significant runs moving forward. Mafe was in the game for 35 defensive snaps and could see that number rise as the season progresses. He already has 15 total tackles and ranks top 10 on his team in that regard, so more opportunity could see more tackles to his total.

Shelby Harris becomes a steady contributor on defense

Harris is the starter on the left side of the line for the Seahawks and has a total of 10 tackles on the season so far, tying for 12th on the team with tackle Poona Ford and safety Ryan Neal. He has played in four games so far (missing the Falcons game) and is set for a steady role on a defense with growing pains.

Noah Fant is making his presence known each week

Tight end Fant isn’t starting for the team, however, he is showing why has been constantly touted with pass-catching top-of-league talent since being drafted in the first round of 2019. He scored his first receiving touchdown in the week 4 shootout against the Detroit Lions and went for 49 yards against the Saints. He won’t out-target receivers DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett, however he is another threat down the field and another weapon for Smith to throw to.

Drew Lock hasn’t been seen in the regular season yet

Even at 25 years old, Lock hasn’t seemed to put everything together yet to be garnered as a starting quarterback in the NFL. He has been outperformed by 32 year old Geno Smith, who many wrote off. Since Smith didn’t write back, he has shown why maybe the Seahawks shouldn’t have traded for Lock, and why trading Wilson wasn’t a bad idea.

Russell Wilson hasn’t looked sharp, and neither has his shoulder

Entering week 5 of the NFL season, the Broncos are sitting at 2-3 and although the Seahawks hold the same win-loss record, the Broncos have looked worse on both sides of the ball and the Seahawks have at least shown signs of life. Wilson has lost his second game this season at the goal line going for a pass and former teammate Richard Sherman is fed up with Wilson’s decisions.

As it stands now, Wilson underwent a procedure for his throwing shoulder that may have been affecting his performance, however, he is already 33 years old and won’t be 100 percent moving forward this season.

With the decline of Wilson, so far the Seahawks are winning this trade based on the draft picks alone, while the players acquired in this trade have been holding their own learning new schemes on a new team.