NFL Rumors: Seahawks Front Office Had No Reason To Extend Russell Wilson's Contract

Nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in a blockbuster deal that saw the Seattle Seahawks receive multiple picks in return, and some are still digging into the circumstances of his sudden departure from the team.

In a report by the Tri-City Herald’s Gregg Bell, it was revealed that Wilson and the organization never held talks about possibly extending his deal.

“Two league sources told The News Tribune multiple times the last two weeks Carroll, Schneider, Wilson and Wilson’s agent Mark Rodgers did not talk ‘ever once’ about another extension for the quarterback in Seattle, as part of this trade or anytime,” the report stated/

In this scenario, the Seahawks hold all the cards in their hands as Wilson’s performance in recent seasons showed his ability slowly declining.

Last season, the Super Bowl-winning quarterback had put up the lowest passing yards he has ever had, with just 3,113 yards which turned into 25 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 64.8.

Even the run game, a weapon that he has relied on for his entire career, saw a steep decline for Wilson as he was only able to rush for 183 yards, nearly 300 yards less from the previous season.

But in this case, the Seahawks may have also been at fault for Wilson’s surprisingly low level of play.

During a video call back in February of 2021, Wilson aired out his frustration with the Seahawks' offensive linemen to keep him from getting hit by the defense.

“You never want to get hit. That’s just, that’s the reality of playing this position. Ask any quarterback who wants to play this game, and I think, at the same time, it’s part of the job and everything else. … I’ve got to find ways to get better, too. But, … I think it always starts up front — offensively, defensively,” Wilson said as quoted by Pro Football Talk.

In 10 seasons with the Seahawks, Wilson was sacked 427 times by opposing defenses and it is a number that does not entirely contribute to a winning football season.

It now seems like a chicken-and-egg situation that led to Wilson being moved to the Broncos, allowing both sides to move on from the situation.

The Seahawks have a wealth of draft picks that they can use to shape their roster and potentially find a long-term quarterback as Drew Lock appears to be a placeholder for this season.

As for Wilson, it was reported that he would be having an even bigger say in shaping the roster to better suit his skills, something that he supposedly did not have in Seattle.

Understandably, Wilson in Denver is a massive gamble for the Broncos that could potentially backfire on them, but only time will tell.