Broncos QB Russell Wilson Turned Down Commanders and NFC East Rival?
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If the Washington Commanders or Philadelphia Eagles had their way, Russell Wilson would have been the quarterback for one of the two teams in 2022.
Wilson had other plans.
Sports Illustrated's Greg Bishop went on Seattle Sports 770 on May 31 to speak with Mike Salk and elaborated on Wilson refusing to waive his trade clause for Philadelphia, saying that they really wanted Wilson but he preferred to stay in Seattle. Salk said that he heard a deal for Philadelphia to acquire the former Super Bowl champ was done, but that Wilson preferred to remain a Seahawk.
Wilson ultimately ended up waiving his no trade clause for the Denver Broncos. Denver gave up two first-round picks and multiple players to the Seattle Seahawks for Wilson. The 11th-year quarterback signed a 5-year $245 million extension with the Broncos before the 2022 season.
"The Eagles really wanted him," Bishop said. "They liked his style of play and I think that makes sense because it's similar to Jalen Hurts, especially when he was in his prime and a little faster than now. My understanding is at that point in time is that Russ wanted to stay here...The Eagles were going gangbusters after quarterbacks for a couple years."
Bishop's reporting was echoed by Jake Heaps of Seattle Sports 710 in March of 2022. Heaps went on KOA’s Broncos Country Tonight and said that Wilson nixed a deal that would've made him a Commander and spurred Philadelphia at the NFL Combine in favor of Denver.
“He turned down the Washington [Commanders] offer," Heaps said. "He turned down an offer from Philly during the Combine. And the Denver situation was the clear-cut, number one choice for him going into all these other teams.”
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport also heard rumblings of the Eagles and Commanders' interest in the quarterback. In an appearance on The 33rd' Team's, "For Those About To Mock With Joey Mulinaro," on April 6, Rapoport touted the rumors of Wilson to either NFC East team is one of the bigger rumors he's heard at the Combine.
"There were times last year where I was pretty convinced either the Eagles or Commanders were going to trade for Russell Wilson," Rapoport said. "That was one where you kinda stop everything and you're like, 'Hang on.'
"Now turns out that that was not something (Wilson) was into. He was only interested in going to the Broncos and I think we know the story ... That was something that shook my brain a little bit last year."
Wilson going to either NFC East team would have shook up the NFL season in 2022.
Jalen Hurts made a huge jump in his second full season as the Eagles' starting quarterback, leading them to the Super Bowl. His play earned him a 5-year $255 million contract extension this offseason.
Hurts was leaps and bounds better in 2022 than Wilson, who had the one of the worst season of his career in his first year with the Broncos. The 11-year pro hit career lows with 16 touchdowns and a 60.5 completion percentage. He was also sacked 63 times and Denver only averaged 16.9 points per game, both of which were the worst in the NFL.
The Broncos went 5-12 and fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett before the end of the season. Denver then gave up a first round pick in 2023 and a second round pick in 2024 to the New Orleans Saints to hire Sean Payton as its head coach and also received a 2024 third round pick.
As for the Commanders, it's tough to say whether they dodged a bullet. Former Washington quarterback Carson Wentz is still a free agent, while Taylor Heinicke landed a two-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons to be their backup quarterback.
How quarterback Sam Howell performs will likely be the deciding factor on if Washington was better off not acquiring Wilson and decide the fate for people throughout the organization. Regardless, the Broncos and Commanders each have huge question marks at quarterback, while Philadelphia seemingly has its franchise QB.
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