- As ESPN reported on Tuesday, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a major deal in which the Broncos would send a substantial package of players and draught selections to the Seahawks in return for Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson.
- For Wilson and a 2022 fourth-round pick, the Broncos have agreed to trade quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, two first-round picks (No. 9 overall) and 2023, two second-round picks (No. 40 overall) and 2023, as well as a 2022 fifth-round pick to the Seahawks, according to sources.
- Peyton Manning’s retirement sparked a search by Denver for a quarterback, and this deal provides Seattle a solid platform to build on without its lone Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
- On Tuesday night, sources tell ESPN, Wilson agreed to waive his no-trade clause and passed his Broncos’ physical. The Seahawks may now ship him to Denver, ending his record 10-season stint in Seattle that includes nine Pro Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl victory, and more victories than any quarterback ever had in his first ten seasons in the league..
- According to sources who spoke to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, if Wilson were moved, the Broncos would be his first choice.
- A physical exam will still be required for the other players involved in the deal. In any case, the clubs have begun the procedure with the NFL to ratify the deal, which can only be formally disclosed on March 16 at 4 p.m. ET, the start of the league year in 2022.
- Denver acquiring Wilson has nothing to do with Aaron Rodgers’ decision to return to Green Bay. At least two weeks ago, sources tell Sports Illustrated, Denver general manager George Paton began trade discussions with Seattle for Wilson. Wilson, on the other hand, has emerged as the Broncos’ go-to trade target in recent days as negotiations with Seattle have heated up. Rodgers had not been talked with the Broncos or Packers throughout this summer.
- Multiple clubs made bids to the Seahawks for Wilson, and the organisation was keeping a close eye on the situation. More than a half-dozen clubs, according to one league source. If Wilson had to go, he wanted to join a team that had already won a lot of games. As a team, Denver is focused on winning now, regardless of its offensive or defensive prowess.
- For years, the Denver Broncos have been searching for a new quarterback to replace Peyton Manning, much as they did when John Elway resigned from the position. Wilson, a 33-year-old man, steps in.
- A new head coach, Nathaniel Hackett, will take charge of the Denver Broncos with Wilson on board. There are wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, and running back Javonte Williams on this offensive line.
- Caesars Sportsbook lowered the Broncos’ Super Bowl odds from 25-1 to 12-1 on Tuesday. There are just three teams with greater chances of winning the Super Bowl than the Denver Broncos at Caesars Sportsbook: the Buffalo Bills (15-2), the Kansas City Chiefs (8-1) and the Packers (10-1). At Caesars, the chances of the Seattle Seahawks winning the Super Bowl went from 40-1 to 75-1.
- Super Bowl XLVIII victor Wilson will become the first quarterback to start in a Super Bowl against the club he defeated, according to ESPN stats and information.
- Wilson was expected to cost the Seahawks $37 million in the next season. The Seahawks will save $11 million in cap space in 2022 as a result of trading for him. To free up salary money, the Seahawks are also releasing All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was chosen on the same day as Wilson in 2012 and was a franchise cornerstone.
- Wilson’s trade leaves the Seahawks with $26 million in dead money. After the $33.8 million the Philadelphia Eagles gave up for Carson Wentz, that is the second-highest amount of dead money a franchise has ever suffered.
- When asked about the prospect of moving Wilson by reporters at the scouting combine last week, Coach Pete Carroll said that the Seahawks had “no intention,” but Carroll did not rule out the option completely. According to The (Tacoma) News Tribune, Seahawks general manager John Schneider’s normal reaction to clubs asking about Wilson is that the organisation is not looking to trade Wilson.
- Wilson’s departure from the team comes 13 months after he first expressed his displeasure with the organisation. It was publicised by him in February 2021 that he had endured so many hits and sacks over his career, and that he felt he had little influence in the team’s personnel decisions as compared to other elite quarterbacks.
- Sports media sources informed ESPN that Wilson’s remarks enraged others in the company. However, after a season devoid of conflict in 2021, such tensions seem to have dissipated.
- Whether Wilson sought a trade is unknown.
- Sources tell Sports Illustrated that Wilson has always expected to review his concerns after the 2021 campaign. Multiple times, he said he wanted to stay in Seattle and win more Super Bowls with the Seahawks long-term. Wilson, despite the fact that his no-trade provision may ensure his continued presence, did not make a definitive statement to that effect.
- Two years and $51 million are remained on Wilson’s four-year, $140 million contract. Additionally, the players receive annual roster bonuses totaling $5 million in March on top of their $19 million and $22 million base salaries. The Seahawks would have owed Wilson his $5 million bonus if he had remained on the roster as of March 20.
- A Lombardi Trophy-winning quarterback for the Seahawks, Wilson departs Seattle as the team’s all-time leader in most key passing statistics.
- The Broncos will visit the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field in the upcoming season.
