Russell Wilson traded to Broncos for top-10 pick, Drew Lock
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Russell Wilson traded to Broncos for top-10 pick, Drew Lock
The Seahawks are setting their focus on finding a new franchise quarterback... in 2023
I said that I wouldn’t write about ANY Russell Wilson trade rumors this year and that I wouldn’t touch the topic until there was actual news about a Russell Wilson trade.
That didn’t take long.
The Seahawks have made one of the biggest blockbuster deals in NFL history, sending Wilson to the Denver Broncos for multiple first round picks, multiple second round picks, and three players: Drew Lock, Noah Fant, and Shelby Harris.
The trade helps Seattle get back into the top-10 of this year’s draft, likely connecting the Seahawks to a premier prospect at another position. I wouldn’t expect John Schneider and Pete Carroll to use a first round pick on a quarterback this year, as Seattle is now the clear number four team in the NFC West and it sets the franchise up in a premium spot to be involved in next year’s QB class—when the potential to find greatness at the position is much greater.
Seahawks receive:
1st round pick
1st round pick
2nd round pick
2nd round pick
5th round pick
Drew Lock
Shelby Harris
Noah Fant
Broncos receive:
Russell Wilson
4th round pick
The Seahawks could now turn their focus to a tackle like Trevor Penning, a cornerback like Sauce Gardner, an edge rusher like Travon Walker. Seattle then picks again near the top of round two and will have multiple first round picks in 2023.
How “good” or “bad” could Denver’s 2023 first round pick be now that they have Russell Wilson at quarterback? (And likely bringing back Von Miller in free agency.)
I don’t find this move to be as helpful as when the LA Rams traded for Matthew Stafford last January. The AFC West has Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Derek Carr manning the other QB positions and we came within one field goal of all three of those teams making the 2021 playoffs. Not that the 2021 NFC West didn’t also look terrifying when the Rams added Stafford, but I still find the AFC to be a more difficult gauntlet than last season’s NFC.
But that doesn’t mean that the Broncos aren’t probably a playoff team at this moment.
The Seahawks are probably not a 2022 playoff team and that’s okay. The Seahawks were not a 2021 playoff team. This move may increase the odds of making the 2023 and 2024 playoffs, but it is impossible to separate “trading away Russell Wilson” and “getting worse in the immediate.”
Seattle didn’t make this move for right now. The picks could still make the future look bright right now.
What are your thoughts on the Seahawks trading Russell Wilson to the Broncos for two firsts, two seconds, and a trio of players?
Russell Wilson traded to Broncos for top-10 pick, Drew Lock
My thoughts, in general chronological order:
I wish Jody had chosen Russ over PC/JS.
In all likelihood Russ maybe wanted out regardless, threatened a holdout, wouldn't have re-signed, etc, and this is the best overall value we reasonably could have gotten, considering cap relief, draft capital, bringing in young talent over the next couple years.
There wasn't any trade that really made since this year, so if the trade needed to happen this year for sure, well, this is fine.
I'm surprised Pete wanted to be involved in a rebuild.
I really hope they do go all-in for the rebuild. Cut Wagner. Don't re-sign Duane. Consider trading high-end talent that will be 'old' by the time the Seahawks peak again (e.g. Lockett).
This seems to be Jody's first big move. We will see how it goes.
I don’t follow tbh… we keep the leagues oldest coach for a rebuild? I mean, Pete have done great things for the Hawks, it’s still very surprising to me. I thought we’d keep a 9 time ProBowl QB with at least 5 years in the tank over Pete tbh.
Good or bad, I still need to sleep I this before settling on that.