New report details Russell Wilson's process of evaluating landing spot, what made difference
Russell Wilson was traded from the Seahawks last week, ending over a decade in Seattle. Now, the Super Bowl champion quarterback is bringing his prowess to the Denver Broncos. However, it wasn’t a straight shot to get to Denver for Wilson.
According to Peter King’s Football Morning in America, Wilson’s team weighed a bevy of factors in choosing the franchises the quarterback would play for.
“As Wilson’s side considered which team it wanted to play for, it considered 14 different teams with scores of factors for each: roster depth, cap condition, trust in GM/coach, development of the quarterback, season-ticket and fan base, everything,” wrote King. “Denver finished either at or near the top in that 14-team contest. At the end, Denver was a very good spot—even though Wilson enters the toughest division in football, bar none, with each team having a franchise quarterback.
“The challenge gets even tougher with the Chargers bulking up with Khalil Mack and other free-agent prizes this spring.”
Moreover, King adds that Denver and Seattle have been discussing the potential deal for over a month.
“When the trade becomes official, one of the Denver claims will be that Paton never engaged Green Bay in conversations about Aaron Rodgers—he was all-in on Wilson (five years younger that Rodgers, likely to play six or seven more years at least) all along. That could be. I do know Paton and Seattle GM John Schneider have been discussing the guts of this trade since January; they were spotted in at least two long conversations at the Senior Bowl in late January, and might have discussed it before then,” wrote King.
As you can see, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to Russell Wilson joining the Denver Broncos.
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Moreover, King added that the Seahawks will be just fine in their future without Russell Wilson.
“As for Seattle, I’ll always think the drip-drip-drip of an unhappy quarterback factored into this,” wrote King. “Although Wilson is a non-confrontational sort, Schneider was probably never going to pay a quarterback and supposed team leader $50 million a year if he wasn’t all-in with the organization. This gives Schneider, a fearless deal-maker and risk-taker, the ammo (ninth and 40th overall picks this year, an extra first-rounder next year) the ability to be a player in the Deshaun Watson derby if he chooses.
“Schneider is the type of GM to take that shot—if Watson can be convinced to waive his no-trade clause for Seattle. (Why wouldn’t he?) Don’t cry for the Seahawks. They’ll figure it out.”
Time will tell what the Seahawks do with Wilson in Denver. However, one thing is for certain — Seattle traded away the best quarterback in the history of their franchise, and there’s no quality replacement on their roster at the moment.