Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks.
In the wake of a frustrating first-round exit in last season’s playoffs, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson did an interview with Dan Patrick at the Super Bowl that was very critical of his team. That was followed by a list of teams Russ would accept a trade to, released by his agent.
There seemed to be a huge disconnect between the star player and the organization that pays him handsomely. In the spring, Seattle appeased Wilson by bringing in a new offensive coordinator (Shane Waldron) and help for the offensive line (starting guard Gabe Jackson).
Unfortunately, the results in 2022 are even worse. Part of the failure has to do with the three-and-a-half games Wilson missed due to a finger injury. But the facts are the Seahawks weren’t doing all that well when Russ was fully healthy.
Unless the Seahawks can win out, this will be the first losing season of RW3’s career. Should that happen, change will come to one of the most consistent organizations in the NFL.
I believe, IF the Seattle Seahawks don’t let head coach Pete Carroll go, Wilson will make a similar move the next offseason that will lead to his departure from the Emerald City. And it started with another list of teams released last week. Seahawks owner Jody Allen has three paths to choose from, and either way, it ends badly for a beloved member of the team.
What happens IF owner Jody Allen decides to keep Carroll? Assuming general manager John Schneider also keeps his job, moving RW3 becomes a priority. It will be the most important move they ever make and consequently will decide the franchise’s direction for the next decade or more.
A player of Wilson’s caliber and pedigree has no shortage of suitors. However, he controls his fate due to a no-trade clause in his contract. The recently surfaced list of teams Wilson would accept a trade to includes the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and New Orleans Saints.
From a Seattle Seahawks perspective, it comes down to who can pay the most. That team looks like New York. The Giants have two potential Top 10 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, which would be a good starting point for a trade package. They also have two third-round, and two fourth-round picks next year. Among the players Seattle could get in return are quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley.
Denver and New Orleans both have one first-rounder each in 2022, and their respective picks look to be in the low teens. So they will need to throw in some future number ones in their respective packages. How much of their future would either team be willing to sacrifice?
It is possible ownership chooses Russ and parts ways with Pete Carroll (or puts him into an executive position). To please Wilson, the team then brings in an offense-minded head coach. At the top of that list would be Eric Bieniemy (Chiefs offensive coordinator) and Byron Leftwich (Buccaneers offensive coordinator).
Then what happens to Schneider? Does he leave with Carroll? Or does she allow him to remain the team’s GM and build a new Seattle Seahawks roster to fit the new coach’s vision?
A few stalwarts may have to go if the Seahawks go the rebuild route. Both right tackle Brandon Shell and center Ethan Pocic are free agents after the season. Also, left tackle Duane Brown, tight end Gerald Everett, LEO Carlos Dunlap, and safety Quandre Diggs have void years in 2022, making them free agents, too.
Out of all of them, Diggs would have the best chance of returning, but would he come back to a very unsettled situation? Additionally, that free agent list includes three of the Seahawks’ five starting offensive linemen, leaving them with guards Gabe Jackson and Damien Lewis.
In a rebuilding situation, some players become too expensive to keep. Defensive end LJ Collier and running back Chris Carson fit that scenario to a tee. The first choice would be to trade one or both for draft capital. But if the GM can’t make a deal, buyouts are an option.
Seattle might also need to restructure some of the bigger contracts. Stars such as Bobby Wagner and Tyler Lockett might be asked to re-do their current contracts to spread out their respective cap hits.
There is option three. Blow it all up; Wilson, Carroll, maybe even Schneider all go. Allen finds a new person to lead the team from the top, and they build the organization from the ground up. In that case, all the above can and will happen.
Whichever path they take, the 2022 Seattle Seahawks could look very different from the current edition.