4 NFL players that would be irreplaceable for COVID opt-out
By Dustin Baker
1. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes was not listed in these rankings because of his head coach. Chiefs skipper Andy Reid has a documented history of ensuring quarterbacks thrive in his offensive scheme.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, although very marvelous at what he does, is not known for quarterback development as is Reid. Yes, Carroll has helped foster Wilson’s success, but Carroll has not done this to the degree Reid routinely has.
As for Russell Wilson, the eight-year veteran is not the straw that the stirs the drink–he’s the cup. There were many seasons that Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” was the hallmark of the organization–but not anymore. Wilson is the team’s lifeblood.
In 2019, the Seattle Seahawks were the only team in the NFL to win four games by three or fewer points and be undefeated in these scenarios. Why? Because Russell Wilson had a 2019 passer rating of 138.1 in the fourth quarters of games when the score margin was within three points. That is otherworldly. The man earns his money.
What’s more, Seattle’s defense somehow rides along on name recognition as being a fairly good unit. They are not. At the very least, it is safe to assert that the team’s defense is nowhere near as good as it was five years ago. Last season, the Seahawks ranked 22nd in the NFL in points allowed (24.9 points per game).
Next. Predicting the entire 2020 NFL season before camp. dark
Each season since about 2016 the Seattle defense has been fading. The decline has been masked by Russell Wilson’s ascension to the best or second-best quarterback in the business.
He is irreplaceable.