Last year I wrote about how the Seattle Seahawks were clear winners in the Russell Wilson trade after the first year. To arrive at a contrary conclusion was impossible. One team made the playoffs thanks to an infusion of new talent thanks to extra draft capital, while one team suffered an unwatchable season.
But, as I mentioned at the end of the article: “Granted, this is only after one year. Fortunes can change just as quickly in the opposite direction for each team.” At the time, this was definitely true. The Denver Broncos were so abysmal in 2022, it seemed highly improbable of them sinking lower. With new head coach Sean Payton out of retirement, the possibility of a bounce back and getting Russell Wilson “right” was certainly on the table.
For a while, it did look like this was the case. Denver was winning, Wilson was enjoying a strong statistical year, and the Seahawks were in the midst of a losing streak. By Week 14, Seattle was 6-7 and the Broncos were 7-6.
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But the clock has struck midnight in the Mile High City. No, the orange you see on the field are not pumpkins, they’re just another disappointing Denver team. The latest chapter in the ongoing sad saga of the Broncos since 2016 now includes a home Christmas Eve loss to the dreadful New England Patriots and the subsequent benching of their $245 million dollar quarterback.
This is it. The verdict is finally in, and the jury has not been left with any shadow of a doubt. With Russell Wilson benched for the remaining two games in favor of *checks notes* Jarrett Stidham, the Seahawks have won the trade.
There is no argument. There are no more hypotheticals, “what if’s” or even hope. The last laugh goes to the team wearing action green and college navy.
No, the Seahawks are not a perfect team right now by any means. Seattle still has plenty of holes and a sizable gap to close between them and San Francisco. I’m sure there are not many who have them on their shortlist of Super Bowl contenders this year. But the Seahawks are accomplishing what they set out to do when they moved on from Wilson: they are rebuilding a core for the future.
Think about the successes Seattle has already achieved from this trade. Devon Witherspoon, who should have been Denver’s No. 5 pick, seems to be a lock for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Charles Cross, who should have been the Broncos’ pick last year, looks like he’s a franchise caliber left tackle. Linebacker Boye Mafe has nine sacks and set a Seahawks record for a sack in seven straight games. Drew Lock, a Denver castaway relegated to a backup role, helped upset the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are now benching a quarterback who has played fine because they do not want to risk an injury that would put them on the hook for tens of millions of dollars. If that doesn’t spell “we’re starting the process of moving on from Wilson” then I’m not sure what will. Which is really quite astonishing when you consider Wilson actually hasn’t even played one snap under the $245 million extension Denver gave him.
I’m not sure what the future holds for Russell Wilson, but it sure seems like his ride in Broncos Country is coming to an unceremonious end.
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