It’s hardly surprising that a lot of people didn’t understand why Russell Wilson would have the Chicago Bears on his shortlist of teams he’d want to play for if traded. A team with a massive history of mishandling the position? A team with a head coach and GM on the hot seat who is also in danger of losing their best offensive weapon? Nothing about it makes sense.
That is because most aren’t looking at the big picture. Wilson isn’t just thinking about 2021. He is thinking about the future. What would happen if he came in and turned the Bears, a historically bad offensive franchise around? He’d become an icon. Even more revered than he already is. If Seattle isn’t willing to let him seize greater control of his career, he’s ready to go somewhere that will. Besides, it’s not like the Bears are a terrible landing spot.
Former Packer Greg Jennings said as much on The Herd recently.
Nobody is saying the Bears are a premiere landing spot for any quarterback. They aren’t what the Buccaneers were last season for Tom Brady. Yet to say they don’t have anything to offer is simply false. They still have a good defense in place. Their offensive line showed improvement down the stretch last season despite a myriad of injury setbacks. Allen Robinson (presuming they keep him) is a legitimate top 7 wide receiver while Darnell Mooney is the kind of deep threat Wilson would instantly love.
One has to stop thinking about how good the Bears offense is and start thinking about how good it could be with someone like him at quarterback. He’s the sort of talent who can elevate everybody around him. A genuine superstar. Sometimes a seemingly mediocre team can be transformed into a force when the right guy is under center.
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Russell Wilson situation is unlikely to resolve itself
Plenty of experts refuse to believe it’ll get to the point where Seattle will trade him. How can they? He’s the franchise. They’re a 6-10 football team without him. Yet still others warn this has been brewing much longer than people realize. Simply mentioning a trade idea would’ve been much ado about nothing. The fact Wilson has already handpicked certain teams he wouldn’t mind going to? That means he’s been thinking about this for some time.
Even if the trade doesn’t happen this year, Adam Schefter and others feel a breakup is inevitable. So maybe it’s in the Seahawks’ best interests to make it happen sooner than later. Wilson is already 32-years old and will be 33 this year. He turns 34 in 2022. Quarterbacks are always valuable but like any player their value depletes as they get older. Seattle isn’t likely to get the same return next year that they would this offseason.
That is why the Bears are wisely staying persistent in their pursuit.
All that is need is for the Seahawks to open conversations up and it’s hard to imagine Pace won’t do whatever it takes to make Russell Wilson a Chicago Bear. Would the price be high? Naturally. Superstar quarterbacks are expensive. Yet the reality is teams don’t compete for championships in this era without one. The Bears have good reasons to think they can chase a Lombardi trophy with somebody like Wilson at the helm.