Just when the NFL offseason can’t get any crazier, another shoe drops. It’s been speculated for a couple of weeks that all is not well between the Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson. The team hasn’t done a good job building an offensive system around him that has kept the 32-year old from getting hit too much. It appears this past 2020 was a breaking point for him.
Word is he has pushed for changes to the scheme but head coach Pete Carroll and the team brass have rebuffed his attempts. Now it appears a trade is actually becoming a possibility. Adam Schefter of ESPN made it clear the quarterback would prefer to stay in Seattle. However, if no resolution can be found then Wilson does have some preferred landing spots. Among the four listed?
The Chicago Bears.
Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson has not demanded a trade, his agent Mark Rodgers told ESPN. Wilson has told the Seahawks he wants to play in Seattle but, if a trade were considered, the only teams he would go to are the Cowboys, Saints, Raiders, Bears.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2021
This sort of news got the expected reactions out of Bears Twitter. Just the idea of Wilson, an eight-time Pro Bowler and likely future Hall of Famer coming to Chicago is just bananas. He’s still in his prime too. Presuming he stays healthy, he can play another 7-8 years easily. So the Bears should have all the incentive in the world to make this a reality.
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The question is why would he want to come here? Only he can answer that. A few possibilities include playing in a larger media market. Something that would appeal both to his and his famous wife Ciara. They’re also run by a Matt Nagy, a quarterback specialist who has built a very QB-friendly staff in Chicago. He runs an offense similar to the one that has made Patrick Mahomes a superstar in Kansas City.
Given how much Wilson wants to be the focal point of an offense? That would make sense.
Russell Wilson is worth almost any price for the Bears
GM Ryan Pace is known for making bold moves. If there was any player who could help erase his massive Mitch Trubisky blunder back in 2017, it would be Wilson. Pace knows that 2021 could be his last stand. So he may be willing to do just about anything to land a true difference-maker at that position. Wilson is that guy. He is worth almost any price.
What will that be? Initial rumors have suggested it centers around three 1st round picks. It’s not hard to imagine the Bears being willing to do that. Are three 1st rounders worth 7-8 years of Russell Wilson? Almost every fan would say 100% without giving it a second thought. He is the sort of talent who can elevate a team overnight. Besides, Pace has already proven he can find quality players without the need for 1st round picks.
It comes down to if other teams can top them.
Among those listed? The biggest threat is likely the Las Vegas Raiders. They could offer the picks but also something else. A capable quarterback in return. Derek Carr is coming off the best season of his career. He’s actually younger than Wilson and would have no problem handling the Seattle weather. If Jon Gruden wants Wilson badly enough, that is the team to watch.