Left For Denver

Russell Wilson Traded from Seahawks to Broncos

    It has begun! As I am writing this we are just two days away from the official launch of the 2022-23 NFL Season but the fun has already started. A little after 2 pm Tuesday it was announced that the Denver Broncos had traded for a new starting QB in Russell Wilson. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the deal is as follows; Seattle receives QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris, two first-round draft picks, and a fifth-round pick, Denver will get Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick in return. 

(via @brgridiron on Instagram)

    This news comes off the heels of the report that Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was resigning with the Packers. As most football fans know, Rodgers had been rumored to have wanted out of Green Bay and the Denver Broncos were a top choice of his. There were multiple reports saying that there was a lot of mutual interest from both sides, the Broncos going as far as hiring Rodgers' former offensive coordinator in Green Bay as their team's new head coach. In the end, though, Rodgers confirmed via social media today that he is indeed staying put. The Broncos missed out on the 2021 MVP but decided to look for another star QB in the NFC.

    On the other side of the equation, Russell Wilson was another QB rumored to be on the move this offseason. It was reported that Wilson was unhappy in Seattle and even gave a list of teams he would waive his no-trade clause for. Those teams include the New Orleans Saints, the New York Giants, and of course the Denver Broncos. Russ's wish came true and the Broncos got their franchise QB, so all is well...right?

    Well maybe not. Wilson will now enter an extremely competitive AFC West that had three 9+ win teams last year and two playoff teams in the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs. Not only are the teams in the division good but the quarterbacks are even better. Derek Carr was a top ten performer last year, Patrick Mahomes is still the best player in football, and Justin Herbert got even better in his sophomore season and could play at an MVP type level in 2022. Denver is definitely a playoff team with Russ under center after going 7-10 last year, but things won't be easy for Wilson and the Broncos.

    As for the Seahawks, they are finally in full rebuild mode and I think this is the right move. Russ had always been a top 10 talent at QB for his entire tenure in Seattle but since 2015 they haven't really contended for anything. After they had to pay Wilson they were never able to build a solid defense or great offense around him. Last year looks like it was the nail in the coffin after going 7-10 and in the basement of the NFC West. As I mentioned a complete rebuild makes total sense here taking into account the amount of talent the other teams in the West have. The Rams are fresh off a Super Bowl Victory with Stafford, the 49ers appear ready to hand Trey Lance the keys to the team that just lost in the NFC Championship, and the Cardinals are always a playoff threat with Kyler and D-Hop on offense. The Seahawks are no match for these NFC powerhouses and now have a few pieces and some picks to try and rebuild for the next few years.

    In the end, I think this trade is pretty solid for both sides with the Broncos being slight "winners" in my eyes. The Broncos have a win-now roster full of young talent. And now they got someone who can compete with the Herberts' and Mahomes' of the world. Meanwhile, the Seahawks will embrace the restart and build to compete again down the road.