Rodgers signs a massive extension and Watson is still settling his near-30 sexual assault accusations. Wilson went from a team in the midst of a rebuild to a possible Super Bowl contender.
This now puts Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes, Derek Carr and Wilson in the same division. Pick a name out of the hat and send them to the Pro Bowl. At least one of these four will not make the playoffs next season.
With the 2022 NFL season officially opening for trades and free agency next Wednesday, March 16, this is the blockbuster that no one could have predicted if you gave them a month.
Seattle sends Wilson and a fifth-round pick to the Broncos for two first-round picks, two second-rounders, a fifth, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Shelby Harris.
With now having the ninth-overall pick in next month’s draft, this puts Seattle in the driver’s seat for landing Kenny Pickett from Pittsburgh as their next franchise quarterback. Pickett will likely be the first off the board, but no one before the Seahawks are truly in that desperate need to spend a top-10 pick. You could make a case for Carolina at 6, but they may be holding Sam Darnold for one more year.
Seattle benefits by seeing their salary cap number go from $11.2 million in 2021, to $49.8 million in 2022. Even with Wilson’s massive contract, the Broncos still have $26.1 million available. Wilson, 33, is owed $24 million this year and $27 million in 2023.
The pairing of Wilson with Melvin Gordon and Jerry Jeudy will immediately make you think of when he had Marshawn Lynch and Doug Baldwin in Seattle. All those three did was win a Super Bowl in 2013. The Seahawks would have gone back-to-back had Pete Carroll actually remembered he had Lynch to run in from a yard out and the Super Bowl on the line with under a minute left.
Despite Gordon being an unrestricted free agent, there are many--myself included--that do not see him going anywhere with Denver’s salary cap spacing. In fact, do not be surprised if Gordon is signed before Wilson passes his physical to make the trade official.
There is little to deny that Wilson is already a Hall of Fame quarterback. The last time the Broncos landed a quarterback of this caliber was Peyton Manning. Denver went to two Super Bowls in three years with “Cut That Meat” under center. Manning lost his first attempt, then rode off into the sun like John Elway after winning his next try.
That loss on the first attempt just happened to be to an up-and-comer named Russell Wilson.
The AFC subtracted Carson Wentz the following day, as the Colts dealt him to the Washington Commanders. Adding Wilson into the mix along with Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow might make the AFC go on a run of Super Bowl winners that would rival the NFC’s run back in the 1980’s.
Denver has not made the postseason since the Manning championship in 2015.
Regardless of who Seattle has to take over for with Wilson’s departure, the thought of them competing within the NFC West is almost laughable. The thought is laughable having to overtake the defending-champion Los Angeles Rams, a San Francisco squad who lost to the Rams in overtime of that NFC title game, and an on-the-rise Arizona Cardinals squad.
The Broncos were 32-18 against the Seahawks when they were division rivals. Since Seattle went to the NFC in 2002, the Broncos are 3-2. I think we need to tack on one more victory in the rivalry after this deal.
-JC24