The NFL offseason is the craziest sports-related thing on the planet. No league brings more twists and turns to the news despite no games being involved. A lot of this is because of just how many different narratives can surface at any given time. First, it was Deshaun Watson and his falling out with the Houston Texans. Then it was Carson Wentz with the Philadelphia Eagles. Now? Things are afoot up in Seattle between Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.
It’s felt like things have been tense between the eight-time Pro Bowler and his team for a couple of years now. There was a rumor back in 2018 before he signed his contract extension that Seattle may have offered Wilson to Cleveland in exchange for the #1 pick. Things quieted after that but it appears the quarterback is tired of being silent. Word seeped out recently he is growing frustrated with the team’s inability to adequately protect him.
Since 2013, Wilson has been sacked 41 times or more every season.
Some will argue the QB is partially to blame for that given his tendency to hold the ball but in reality, he’s not wrong. The Seahawks offensive line has routinely been a sore spot for them every year. Wilson has taken a lot of hits and knows he’s getting older. His body won’t be able to sustain that punishment forever. So he decided to let his displeasure be known.
Apparently, that didn’t sit well with Seattle management. According to longtime analyst and part-time insider Dan Patrick, the team isn’t happy that Wilson took his grievances public. Tensions are rising in the Pacific Northwest. Could it possibly lead to a breakup that sees the future Hall of Famer traded elsewhere?
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“A source told me that the Seahawks’ management is not happy with Russell Wilson and his camp for taking this to the media. You wonder if they’re going to be able to co-exist. . . . The current situation is not sustainable. That’s what I was told.”
Could the Bears pounce on this Russell Wilson possibility?
It’s no secret they are in the market for a quarterback. GM Ryan Pace is desperate to find an upgrade at the position. Nabbing a superstar like Wilson would be the sort of seismic splash that saves jobs. The problem is the same as with Watson though. Chicago isn’t in the best position to make a compelling offer to Seattle even if Wilson were to become available.
They have no top 10 picks to offer and no decent quarterback to give back in exchange. Russell Wilson himself would have to want to come here. It’s not entirely crazy to think about. Chicago is a much bigger market than Seattle and is closer to his hometown of Cincinnati as well as his college of Wisconsin. Still, the odds would not be in their favor compared to other teams.
That doesn’t mean the Bears shouldn’t try.
Wilson would completely change their fortunes overnight. He is that sort of talent. He’s got arguably the best deep ball in the NFL and would instantly unlock the full potential of Darnell Mooney and probably convince Allen Robinson to stay long-term. There are so many reasons to think he’d make Chicago an instant Super Bowl contender. It just feels like this is something that won’t quite come to fruition for a variety of reasons.