The Denver Broncos‘ offseason trade for Russell Wilson has resulted in quite the roller coaster four games into the 2022 season. On March 8, 2022, a week before the 2022 league year officially started, the Seattle Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Broncos in a blockbuster deal.
With ten players and draft picks part of the deal, the Wilson trade became one of the most significant trades in recent NFL history. But how did the trade for the ten-year veteran happen? Here’s a deeper look at why the Seahawks traded Wilson to the Broncos — but first, let’s take a quick glance at the details of the trade.
Russell Wilson Trade Details
Broncos return:
- QB Russell Wilson
- 2022 fourth-round pick
Seahawks return:
- QB Drew Lock
- DT Shelby Harris
- TE Noah Fant
- 2022 first-round pick
- 2022 second-round pick
- 2022 fifth-round pick
- 2023 first-round pick
- 2023 second-round pick
When breaking down this trade, we must start with the main course — Russell Wilson. Sending two first and second-round picks for Wilson is a bold move, and that move has yet to pay off as the Broncos sit at 2-2 in the NFL Standings and have been the center of discussion due to questionable in-game decisions by head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
MORE: Do Broncos Have Buyers Remorse With Russell Wilson?
Meanwhile, in Seattle, Lock has clearly assumed the backup role after Geno Smith’s solid performance through four games of the season. While the offense hasn’t found a consistent rhythm, Smith has completed just about 80% of his passes and played clean football. RB Rashaad Penny turned in his best performance of the season, scampering for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Denver’s early offensive struggles have started to create a cause for concern, and the loss of RB Javonte Williams complicates things even further. Meanwhile, Seattle is content to see how far Smith can take this offense.
But what about the other players who were part of the trade?
After being drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2014, Shelby Harris spent the last five seasons with the Broncos. The veteran defensive lineman tallied 21.5 sacks during his time in Denver, creating solid pressure for the Broncos. He’s played in three games so far this season, with his best performance coming against Detroit in Week 4.
And Noah Fant, the fourth-year TE from Iowa, earned career highs in receptions and touchdowns in 2021. So far, Fant has caught ten of eleven targets for 56 yards and a touchdown. He’s currently ranked fifth in Seattle’s receiving room and behind both fellow TEs Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson.
The Draft Picks
Four active players have already moved to their new franchises, but what about the draft picks the two teams swapped? Four of the six draft picks were from the 2022 NFL Draft. Starting with the fourth-round pick the Broncos received, Denver selected DT Eyioma Uwazirke from Iowa State with the 116th overall pick.
The Seahawks got to use two picks they received well before the Broncos’ fourth-round selection. Seattle selected Mississippi State OT Charles Cross with the ninth overall pick from Denver. The Seahawks then used the second-round pick to select Minnesota LB Boye Mafe.
Yet, Seattle was not done wheeling and dealing. They would trade Denver’s fifth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for another fifth and seventh-round pick. They selected Ohio State DE Tyreke Smith and Lenoir-Rhyne WR Dareke Young, respectively.
MORE: PFN Mock Draft Simulator
While that would already be quite a haul, Seattle will have two additional picks in the 2023 NFL Draft because of the trade. That means Seattle will have six selections in the first four rounds, including two in both the first and second rounds.
Seattle set itself up for quite a successful and quick rebuild while also seeing some interesting results so far. The weapons in place right now, despite some mediocre play, are thriving with positive success.
Meanwhile, the same cannot be said for the “just a QB away” Broncos. Their start to the season has not gone as expected, and the plan is now even murkier with Williams being ruled out for the season.
Why Did the Seahawks Trade Russell Wilson?
While tensions had been brewing for a few years, the situation boiled over during the 2020 season. You might remember the “Let Russ Cook” movement early that season as Wilson built an incredible MVP season backed by the best statistical stretch of his career.
There was one issue, however — head coach Pete Carroll. Carroll has quite the NFL Hall of Fame resume as a coach, and that’s been driven by a fierce ground game and suffocating defense.
The Seahawks would lose to the Buffalo Bills 44-34 after a blazing 6-1 start to the season. Wilson fumbled the ball four times while looking lost in the backfield, the rushing attack turned 17 touches into just 57 yards, and Bills QB Josh Allen carved up the defense.
Left dumbfounded by the results, Carroll decided it was time for a change back to his bread and butter. A week later, Wilson would play his worst game of the season against the Los Angeles Rams, practically killing his MVP hopes.
After losing three games in four weeks, Seattle hosted Arizona in Week 11. Having lost to the Cardinals in Week 7 in overtime, Wilson felt he had some ideas to fix the offense and help the team win the second matchup.
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer ignored Wilson’s suggestions, causing the franchise QB to leave the room incensed. Ironically, Carroll was not involved in the meeting, but his offensive philosophies affected Schottenheimer’s offensive scheme and play calling.
The root of the problem between Wilson and the Seahawks was Seattle’s unwillingness to let the QB be more involved in the offensive game planning. Wilson’s reaction to Schottenheimer’s brush-off should’ve been a sign, but apparently, Carroll did not see it. The following offseason, Seattle fired Schottenheimer.
The final straw came in the 2021 offseason when Wilson again asked Carroll how Seattle planned to address an offensive line that offered him little protection. Instead of giving his franchise QB a definitive plan or answer, Carroll insisted Wilson have faith in him.
When the offense continued to struggle after Schottenheimer’s dismissal, Wilson made the necessary moves to initiate a trade, and here both franchises sit with the same 2-2 record.
Russell Wilson’s Contract Extension with Denver
Will the Broncos regret the five-year extension before things even get a chance to settle? Broncos HC Hackett has struggled mightily to start the season. From questionable time management to head-scratching decisions such as kicking long-field goals rather than put the ball in his star quarterback’s hands, the Broncos might have more wins if Hackett put more faith in Wilson. However, Wilson has not been clicking on all cylinders either.
Before taking a single snap under center in the Mile High City, the Broncos signed Wilson to a 5-year/$245 million extension, which includes $165 million guaranteed and a yearly average salary of $49 million. The extension ensures Wilson will be in Denver through the 2028 season, barring another trade or cut.
The early struggles have been concerning. Week 4’s loss to the Raiders was the first game the Broncos’ offense scored more than 16 points this season. Wilson has gone a very pedestrian 80 of 131 for 980 yards with a TD/INT ratio of 4/1.
Williams’ ACL tear not only hampers the rushing attack but also leaves Denver without a quality backfield blocker. Melvin Gordon must fix his knack for coughing up the ball and be the support Wilson needs to take Denver’s offense to the next level.
Watching the Seahawks find some success in the plan Carroll envisions, no matter how antiquated it may be, shows NFL fans that some separations must be made in order for both parties to thrive.
Wilson’s best performance of the season was overshadowed by a loss. It’s crazy to look at these two teams four weeks into the season and say the Broncos have more areas to iron out than the Seahawks, but that’s the reality they are now facing.