Seattle Seahawks: Trading Russell Wilson would be grave mistake

The latest NFL rumors suggest the Seattle Seahawks could be preparing to trade Russell Wilson. That would be a horrible move to make, both from competitive and PR standpoints.

Right now, the big buzz working its way around the NFL rumor mill is the potential for the Seattle Seahawks to trade Russell Wilson. As tempting as it may seem to ship away with disgruntled quarterback, it would be the worst possible move for the Seahawks.

Why would John Schneider and Pete Carroll end up regretting the move? There are some obvious reasons, but let’s break them down a bit.

First (and the most obvious) is that the Seahawks would be losing one of the best players in the NFL. Wilson is not only one of the league’s elite quarterbacks, but he’s arguably among the top overall talents in the sport. Parting with one of the smartest, most instinctive gunslingers of the modern era would not be wise from a competitive standpoint.

When Wilson is at his best, there may not be many better than him. He’s a dynamic scrambler with an uncanny ability to move in the pocket, and also possesses one of the best arms in the game. If only he didn’t have to spend much of every game running for his life as the protection from Seattle’s miserable front five inevitably breaks down.

The next point I want to make is that no matter what type of return the Seahawks get, it won’t be enough. Unless a team is willing to literally part with an entire draft class (or two) or numerous first-round picks and a superstar, sending Wilson away won’t be worth it.

Finding a top-tier quarterback like Wilson is simply too difficult.

The final point — and the one that is the true deal-breaker in my opinion — is the impact trading Wilson would have on the franchise’s fanbase. Since the former NC State quarterback came to the Emerald City as a third-round pick in 2012, he’s been seen as Seattle’s savior. He brought the team a Lombardi Trophy, and has helped them remain relevant since. Furthermore, his efforts in the community have cemented his status as a local idol.

That didn’t change when COVID-19 clobbered our country. Shortly after the outbreak hit Washington (one of the first states to be affected), Wilson and his wife, Ciara, donated one million meals to Food Lifeline, a food distribution center that supports food banks, shelters and meal programs in Western Washington.

Between his community outreach, easygoing nature, and cheesy-dad social media approach (we’re looking at you, Mr. Unlimited), the city of Seattle has fallen head-over-heels in love with Wilson. Sending him packing would undoubtedly cause an uproar — one that wouldn’t be easy for the Seahawks to bounce back from.

Obviously the NFL is a business, and all decisions are made to benefit the financial (and sometimes competitive) future of the franchise. Trading Wilson would not only hurt the Seahawks on the field, but it would also cause a massive PR firestorm in the form of livid fans unwilling to root for a franchise that dealt one of the most talented, likable players in the league.

Instead, what Seattle should do is invest in Wilson’s success. They need to stop ignoring the offensive line, and instead dump draft assets into the front five. Maybe even lure in a big-name free agent or pull off a blockbuster trade to ensure that Wilson is protected — and feels like the franchise cares about his safety.

It’s understandable why he doesn’t currently feel that way. Wilson took the third-most amount of sacks in 2020, and has been sacked the most times among all NFL quarterbacks since entering the league in 2012. The worst part: it’s not even close. Wilson has been sacked 394 times since 2012, which is 69 more times than the second-most sacked quarterback in that timeframe, the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan.

The Seahawks have a problem. However, the solution isn’t trading away their superstar quarterback and inciting a riot among their fans. It’s proving to Wilson that the franchise wants him around, and is willing to do whatever is necessary to keep him upright.