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For both Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, their reported disapproval of their current teams has created a lot of interesting offseason storylines to follow, especially for Wilson.
With Wilson voicing his displeasure in how the Seattle Seahawks front office has handled protecting him, trade rumors have been floating around since then, focusing on the four locations he said he would approve of: the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders and the New Orleans Saints. The Bears have been the most invested in trade talks with the team, speaking to their lack of confidence in Nick Foles and any other long-term plans.
Looking to spice up his market, here are three potential deals that the Seahawks would be hard-pressed to turn down.
Wilson heads to the Sunshine state and joins a new AFC powerhouse
Miami Dolphins receive: QB Russell Wilson, 2022 5th round selection
Seattle Seahawks receive: 2021 1st round selection (3rd overall, from HOU), 2021 1st round selection (18th), 2021 3rd round selection (81st overall), 2022 2nd round selection, QB Tua Tagovailoa, CB Noah Igbinoghene, WR Preston Williams
While the Miami Dolphins are not a team on Wilson’s preferred list, the kind of core that they are building down in Florida is something that should very much interest him. Een though their current offensive line unit is nothing superb, they do have a solid bookend tackle in Ereck Flowers and a few young pieces that are solid to help keep Wilson upright.
The four total picks going back to Seattle would help refill their cupboard, especially getting the third overall selection which they could use on someone like a Penei Sewell to help shore up their offensive line, which would be a nice slight to Wilson as he was sent out the door. Needing to help improve their defense more than their offense, these picks could go a long way to helping shore up their defensive line, linebackers, and secondary help.
By sending out incumbent starting QB Tua Tagovailoa, this frees up any sort of unneeded storylines throughout training camp if Tagovailoa remained, while giving him a chance to take over the starting role in Seattle. There would be no need for Tua with the Dolphins, and it would write an end to his up-and-down career in teal and white.
Both Noah Igbinoghene and Preston Williams are nice pieces to add here that certainly are better than throw-ins, as both could be starters.
Igbinoghene is in a crowded secondary room that also includes Byron Jones and Xavien Howard, and the former Auburn corner could benefit from taking over as the Shaquill Griffin replacement. For Williams, he is the third WR behind both DeVante Parker and newly-signed Will Fuller V, so becoming the 2B option behind DK Metcalf and alongside Tyler Lockett would be a step up.
Russell Wilson tries to make Tom Brady wish he already retired
Carolina Panthers receive: QB Russell Wilson, 2022 5th round selection
Seattle Seahawks receive: 2021 1st round selection (8th overall), 2022 1st round selection, 2023 1st round selection, QB Teddy Bridgewater, DE Yetur Gross-Matos, TE Ian Thomas
Heading to the NFC South division that is headlined by the most recent Super Bowl winner, combined with three other solid teams, should make Wilson very excited if he were to be traded to the Carolina Panthers. Pairing Wilson with Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, and Robby Anderson would make this offense supremely tough. Moreover, with Carolina having been interested in Watson this offseason, it would make sense for them to look at Wilson as well.
Throwing three firsts out is a necessity if they want to be able to ship Teddy Bridgewater out in any deal, just due to him being a long-term salary commitment on the books. While Bridgewater would be a solid option for SEA, he would not constitute a likely long-term solution, limiting his impact with the Seahawks.
The three first-rounders would be huge, especially as Seattle could use the 8th pick to upgrade their defense via a Caleb Farley/Patrick Surtain or Micah Parsons. They could also move back (as they typically do), giving them even more ammo to add to their restocking of the cupboard.
Tight end Ian Thomas projects to be a solid, albeit unspectacular, offensive option for the Panthers this season, and the Seahawks have no proven TE option, so sending him out would be a small aspect of the deal. But including the young defensive end in Yetur Gross-Matos would be a huge get for Seattle, as he would be able to help be a young pillar on that defensive front–one that is in desperate need to be improved.
Russell Wilson gets to find out how much the fans in Philadelphia really hate mediocrity
Philadelphia Eagles receive: QB Russell Wilson, 2022 4th round selection
Seattle Seahawks receive: 2021 1st round selection (6th overall), 2022 1st round selection, 2023 2nd round selection, QB Jalen Hurts, DE Derek Barnett, TE Zach Ertz
Even after Carson Wentz was sat down and Jalen Hurts was given the keys towards the end of his rookie season, the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office does not seem to be fully sold on Hurts being the franchise cornerstone moving forward–which is why Wilson would be a great fit here.
Philly head coach Nick Sirianni would love to have Wilson at his disposal, and putting him behind a stout offensive line that includes center Jason Kelce, guard Brandon Brooks, and tackle Lane Johnson would be a dream come true for the former Badgers star.
While working with Jalen Reagor, JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Travis Fulgham and others certainly would be a significant step down from the weaponry he had in Seattle, Wilson would love being able to have an established tight end in Dallas Goedert to target.
The 6th overall pick would be great for the Seahawks to jumpstart their retooling, as that could go towards Sewell or Rashawn Slater, or even could decide to grab TE Kyle Pitts with it and continue to expand their slate of weaponry around Hurts. Bringing in Zach Ertz would be somewhat more of a salary swap than a talent addition, and Ertz would be a likely trade candidate this offseason as the Seahawks would likely want to move him as soon as they would get him.
Barnett would be a really interesting pickup for the Seattle defense, and the four-year pro out of Tennessee would help improve a below-average defensive pass rush.
While all three offers certainly would interesting if they happened, sending Russell Wilson to the Eagles would be the best option for him, and while they certainly have underachieved lately, there is a solid core that would surround the star QB even with the pieces being sent out.
