Deshaun Watson has some competition for the most dramatic off-season quarterback situation – it looks like things are a bit bleak in the Pacific Northwest. Tensions are mounting between Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks, and as a resident of Deadspin’s Seahawks fan, my job is to try to explain this current situation while keeping my heart. mostly get out. So here it goes.
First, the contract. Wilson is the third highest paid quarterback in the league (and of all time) with an average annual salary of $ 35 million. Until the Texans backed the Brinks truck for Watson for $ 39 million a year and the Chiefs Mahomes essentially made the Missouri governor with the largest contract in all of U.S. sporting history ($ 450 million over 10 years), Wilson was at the top from the list.
Here’s the difference: Mahomes and Watson are 26. Wilson is 33.
So, where did the rumors of troubles in paradise begin? CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (so take it with a grain of salt) posted on twitter that he “learned that the Russell Wilson camp has become increasingly frustrated with the Seahawks’ inability to protect the 8-time Pro Bowler. He was fired 394 times in 9 seasons. This situation deserves monitoring. “At first this sounded like off-season smoke from the player from a player trying to pressure an organization to make some changes. I didn’t really buy it. Then, on Tuesday, in a Zoom press conference after. winning the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award On Saturday, Wilson confirmed La Canfora reports.
‘I’m frustrated because I got hit too much. I’m frustrated by that, ”said Wilson.
Wilson also appeared on the Dan Patrick show, where he was asked if the Seahawks have received any calls regarding a possible transaction for him. “Yes, I absolutely believe they got calls,” Wilson said. “Yeah, but you’re a franchise quarterback, you’re a Hall of Fame quarterback. You’re not available, are you? Patrick asked. “I’m not sure if I’m available or not, that’s a Seahawks question.” He went on to say, “I’m not sure how long I’ll be playing in Seattle – hopefully it’s forever, but Things change.”
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The next day, Patrick reported that the Seahawks buyer isn’t too happy with Wilson’s candor this week. “A source told me that Seahawks management is not happy with Russell Wilson and his camp for taking this to the media,” said Patrick. ‘You wonder if they can exist together. The current situation is not sustainable. That’s what I’ve been told. “
Wilson has every right to be frustrated. Since 2014, the last time the Seahawks were in the Super Bowl (ah, the good old days … remember when we’d be the next dynasty, and then Pete Carroll ruined it all by throwing on the goal line and the Dressing Room? Fun Times), no team has spent less on their offensive lines than Seattle, and no team has re-signed less called up offensive lineman than Seattle. They haven’t signed any offensive lineman to a second contract. Not one. To be fair, I wouldn’t sign Garbage Players’ general manager John Schneider since then either.
So where are things? Wilson has an absurdly high contract and is 33 years old, Schneider inexplicably got a six-year contract extension (after I specifically asked the Seahawks not to), the Seahawks are only expected to have about $ 2 million in cap space in the 2021 season, have only three draft picks this year, have no first-rounder for the next two drafts (which I don’t think would matter because Schneider doesn’t have a first round to save his life) and have aging stars in their impact positions. Oh, and Wilson is frustrated with them, and they’re frustrated with him.
This is good. This is all right.
It would be damn unprecedented for a team to trade in a franchise quarterback with a Hall of Fame resume, but the Seahawks are running out of options. Schneider’s new contract gives him the freedom to rebuild this team without having to worry about job security. The only question the Seahawks have to ask themselves is whether they are okay with accepting mediocrity until Wilson leaves free service in three years, or whether they want to get something back for him and hit the reset button. And for that matter, my stomach hurts, and it’s time for some Pepto Bismol and a therapy session.