Grading historical past: Seahawks made the correct, powerful name with Russell Wilson
The Seattle Seahawks traded franchise quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos final 12 months. Let’s grade the commerce with the good thing about hindsight.
Final summer time, the effervescent rigidity between Russell Wilson and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was peacefully resolved — with a commerce. A number of franchises made a play for Wilson, however the Denver Broncos finally emerged because the Tremendous Bowl champ’s new crew.
The Broncos gave up the farm for Wilson, and on the time, who may blame them? Wilson was a nine-time Professional Bowl quarterback with a singular mix of mobility, accuracy, and veteran savvy. He was big-time on and off the sector, with star energy behind his title and a monitor document of high-level NFL success.
Denver had been looking for a quarterback just about ever since Peyton Manning retired. The prospect to get one in every of Wilson’s caliber was too good to cross up.
Grading NFL historical past: Seahawks commerce Russell Wilson to Broncos, one 12 months later
Effectively, within the NFL, nothing ever goes precisely to plan. The Broncos anticipated Wilson to be the franchise’s long-awaited famous person QB. Denver has been residence to among the best gamers within the historical past of the place. What higher place for Wilson to jot down the following chapter of his storied profession.
That subsequent chapter is off to a rocky begin. Wilson performed his worst season but in Denver, trying far older and fewer athletic than he ever did in Seattle. Now 34 years previous, it’s truthful to surprise if the 5-foot-11 Wilson can ever regain elite type.
His 60.5 p.c competitors price was the bottom of his profession and he led the NFL with 55 sacks taken. The Broncos didn’t present Wilson optimum time and house to function within the pocket, nevertheless it was clear the previous star simply didn’t have fairly the identical shine.
Within the meantime, Geno Smith took over the QB reigns in Seattle and skilled one thing of a renaissance. He led the NFL in completion proportion (69.8) and he threw for 4,282 yards, over 700 greater than Wilson. Wilson threw for 11 touchdowns, Smith threw for 30 — in solely two extra video games performed.
Seattle was 9-8 with Smith on the sector. Wilson’s Broncos have been 4-11 with their “star” QB. To make issues worse, the Broncos handed Wilson a five-year, $245 million contract extension. And that’s on prime of the treasure trove of property they parted with to persuade Seattle to make the transfer.
The Broncos employed Sean Payton this summer time, the mastermind behind a decade of Drew Brees dominance. If any coach can deliver out the very best in Wilson, it’s in all probability Payton. That’s not less than what his popularity suggests.
However there’s a really actual likelihood the 34-year-old with a burnt-out arm merely doesn’t have a lot fuel left within the tank. The Broncos are paying Wilson an excessive amount of to not attempt to kick the tires on his stardom, however Denver followers need to be deeply involved in regards to the trajectory of the franchise with Wilson cemented as quarterback.
For the Seahawks, it might seem they received out from underneath Wilson at simply the correct time. Wilson’s distinctive perspective of non-stop optimism has undoubtedly rubbed present and former teammates the flawed means, and now the efficiency simply isn’t as much as par. If we’re handing out grades, Seattle aced the course.
REPORT CARD
Seattle Seahawks: A
Denver Broncos: D
