Seattle Seahawks Continue to Reap Rewards From Russell Wilson Trade
Walking briskly towards the sidelines with the Denver Broncos fate sealed late in the fourth quarter of a 31-21 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, body language and facial gestures painted a clear picture where things stand between former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and coach Sean Payton.
Sporting a soul-searing scowl that could cut through an ice block, Payton grilled Wilson after the veteran quarterback coughed up a fumble inside two minutes to play that was returned by Jets cornerback Bryce Hall for a game-sealing touchdown. Walking by his coach with barely an acknowledgment as he took off his helmet crossing the sideline, the tension between the two leaders could be cut with a knife as the Broncos suffered their fourth loss in five games to open the Payton era.
Now in the midst of his second season in the Mile High City, after a dreadful 2022 campaign under former coach Nathaniel Hackett, things have somehow gotten worse for Wilson, though most of Denver's struggles don't belong on his shoulders. He has turned the corner compared to a year ago with 11 touchdowns and only two interceptions in the first five games, looking more like the perennial Pro Bowler he was in Seattle than last year's imposter.
However, the NFL is a bottom line business and Wilson hasn't been able to do enough to will the Broncos to victories. On top of that, he and Payton look to be at constant odds, whether the coach wants the quarterback to "f------ stop kissing babies," wear a wristband to help relay play calls faster in the huddle, or simply avoid a killer turnover such as Sunday's disastrous fumble.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, while everything seems to be crumbling around Wilson in his new surroundings for a second straight season, the Seahawks continue to enjoy the benefits from trading the franchise quarterback for a boatload of draft picks two years ago. Off to a fast 3-1 start, general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have built one of the most exciting young foundations in the NFL on the backbone of the picks acquired in the blockbuster deal.
While 2022 first-round pick Charles Cross has been sidelined the past three games due to a toe injury, the 23-year old left tackle will have a great chance to return next weekend after a much-needed bye. Meanwhile, second-round pick Boye Mafe has come into his own as arguably the most improved player on the roster, producing a pair of sacks in the first four games and currently posting the second-highest Pass Rush Win Rate among edge defenders according to ESPN.
A terror off the edge for opponents, Boye Mafe has taken a magnificent sophomore leap for the Seahawks, making the Russell Wilson trade look even more lopsided.
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Cross and Mafe have already established themselves as cornerstones in Seattle's well-executed roster retool, but the team's biggest prize may have come in this year's draft. Holding a top-five pick thanks to Denver's abysmal four-win season a year ago, Schneider snagged Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who looks to be on the fast track to superstardom in the secondary.
Just three games into his NFL career, Witherspoon has exhibited his dynamic skill set amassing 23 tackles, two sacks, a 97-yard interception returned for a touchdown, and three pass breakups. Recording both of his sacks and the pick six in a Week 4 win over the Giants on Monday Night Football in front of a national audience, the budding star became the fifth rookie in franchise history to win Defensive Player of the Week honors.
In addition to Witherspoon, second-round edge rusher Derick Hall has started to find his groove in a rotational role as well. Selected with the final pick acquired as part of the Wilson trade from Denver, he led the team with five quarterback pressures in last week's win over New York, including delivering a key hit on Daniel Jones in the fourth quarter that led to an interception for safety Quandre Diggs to put an exclamation point on a 24-3 victory.
As if those four young players aren't enough to already declare the Seahawks as the winner of the Wilson trade by knockout, the team also continues to receive contributions from veterans acquired in the deal to further sweeten the pot.
Athletic tight end Noah Fant, who has made tangible improvements as a blocker in his two years with the franchise, ranked eighth in receiving yards, first in yards after the catch, and second in yards after catch per reception among tight ends heading into Week 5 per Pro Football Focus. Even backup quarterback Drew Lock got in on the act, leading a touchdown drive replacing an injured Geno Smith in New York, showing his arm strength and underrated mobility to help push the lead to 14-3 at half.
When it comes to evaluating mega trades, judgment should always be reserved until at least two full seasons after the deal. Considering his improved individual play, there may still be time for Wilson to turn the season around for Denver to finish with a somewhat respectable record. Time will tell whether or not Seattle has enough firepower behind Geno Smith to push San Francisco for an NFC West title or make a deep playoff run.
But even if the Broncos manage to go on a winning streak and approach the .500 mark by the end of the season and the Seahawks don't return to the playoffs or advance deep into January, the narrative likely won't change much. After being forced to invest further draft picks to pry Payton away from the Saints, the organization doesn't have the capital necessary to replenish a roster full of holes, and it's worth wondering about Wilson's future beyond 2023 given the team's struggles with him under center.
Carrying a cap hit north of $35 million in 2024, while Denver would have to eat a huge dead cap hit to jettison Wilson next year, the franchise may not want to ride this disastrous roller coaster anymore and hit the reset button landing the quarterback of Payton's choosing.
On the flip side, armed with a talented young roster thanks in large part to the high draft picks acquired for Wilson, Schneider and the Seahawks have executed a historical heist fleecing their former AFC rivals. With the foundation in place now to contend for years to come, while the spread may not be quite as wide as the Dolphins 70-20 beatdown of the Broncos a few weeks ago on the field, this deal already has cemented a spot on the Mount Rushmore of lopsided NFL trades.
