Russell Wilson is the latest superstar to enter the crazy 2021 QB trade bonanza. This week, the Athletic reported about the rift between Wilson and the Seahawks’ front office, particularly coach Pete Carroll. Like Houston with Deshaun Watson, Seattle is supposedly not currently listening to any trade offers. However, it seems much more likely that Wilson could move this offseason given his age and the reports that the Seahawks considered drafting both Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Wilson is unhappy enough to broach the subject of a trade, at least. While the Panthers aren’t on his list of preferred destinations and he holds a no-trade clause, it’s difficult to believe that Carolina wouldn’t be one of the teams who have inquired about Wilson. In fact, a recent report said that one-third of the teams around the NFL have.
Carolina may not be quite as ready for a playoff push as the teams Wilson’s agent mentioned. However, he does share a connection with general manager Scott Fitterer from their time in Seattle and he played most of his college career at NC State before transferring to Wisconsin. He may yet be convinced that Charlotte is a worthwhile destination.
Wilson isn’t Watson but he’s still a top-five talent at his position and would be a massive upgrade for this franchise. That said, if the Panthers get involved in any serious talks about a Wilson trade, here are five questions they’ll need to consider.