According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Denver Broncos will send quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick to the Seahawks for Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick.
Let’s grade the trade from all angles.
Grading the Denver Broncos-Seattle Seahawks trade
How should we view today’s Broncos/Seahawks trade? Here are how things stand for Wilson and the teams involved.
Russell Wilson
After two seasons of drama in Seattle, Wilson is getting a fresh start with a strong franchise. While the Broncos don’t have an owner at the moment, they have a solid front office led by GM George Paton. New head coach Nathaniel Hackett is a forward-thinking, innovative leader with an offensive background. Wilson will be surrounded by an above-average offensive line and terrific playmakers like Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler.
With other teams like the Washington Commanders, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Carolina Panthers potentially looking to acquire him, Wilson lucked out with his setup in Denver.
GRADE: A
Denver Broncos
The Broncos swung for the fences and landed themselves a bona fide star. Wilson is a game-changer for the Paton-Hackett regime, as he is a phenomenal ambassador for the franchise and an elite talent at the most important position in sports.
The Broncos acquired a quarterback who defeated them in a Super Bowl not too long ago, and his forgettable performance last year in Seattle won’t be enough to shake off the shine of this acquisition.
Denver gave up a ton in this trade, but they, more than most teams, know how important it is to land a premium quarterback. The Broncos have been through the likes of Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch, Lock, and Teddy Bridgewater to get to this moment. It’s easy to understand why they gave two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, Lock, and a pair of expensive role players to acquire Wilson.
GRADE: A
Seattle Seahawks
While it’s easy to look for “the loser” in every trade, the Seahawks did well for themselves here. It’s hard to give up a franchise QB, but the writing seemed to be on the wall for a divorce over the past 12 or so months. Now, Wilson gets sent off to a place he wants to be, and the Seahawks have enough ammunition to rebuild quickly.
Lock, Fant, and Harris are players who can deliver immediate results, while the ninth overall pick should help the Seahawks land a premium talent. The Seahawks traded their first-round pick to the New York Jets in a terribly one-sided deal for safety Jamal Adams. Acquiring a top-10 pick for Wilson was a must, but they also landed another first-round pick, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, and three veterans.
Fant fills a continuous void at tight end, and he can hopefully find some consistency in Seattle. Harris is still a valuable defender and will likely be a captain for Pete Carroll’s rebuilt defense this season. Lock will serve as quarterback competition for whoever the Seahawks bring on to battle for the right to be Wilson’s successor.
On paper, someone will see Wilson’s name and rush to crown the Broncos the champions of this deal. But the Seahawks, rest assured, did right by themselves here as well.
GRADE: B+