The Seattle Seahawks have made no scarcity of horrible roster strikes lately, however buying and selling Russell Wilson isn’t one in all them. That may appear ridiculous when speaking about dealing a 33-year-old MVP-caliber QB at a time the place there’s an enormous scarcity of high quality passers, but it surely’s a case of recognizing issues weren’t working, accepting a rebuild was on the horizon, and never dragging it out for years of mediocrity.
That’s chilly consolation for followers, who had a brutal Tuesday that not solely noticed Wilson traded to the Broncos, however the launch of linebacker Bobby Wagner, among the best and most beloved gamers in franchise historical past. The reality is, issues merely haven’t been working for Seahawks for just a few years now, whether or not or not Seattle’s report exhibits it, and this was a staff within the midst of a persona disaster. ESPN’s Invoice Barnwell defined this challenge completely.
“As a lot because the Seahawks are transferring on from Wilson as a person, that is an ideological shift for them again to what Carroll believes is the right system for successful soccer video games. They gained a Tremendous Bowl with a dominant protection, a bodily working recreation and a quarterback they drafted within the third spherical who was making peanuts and threw the ball 25 instances per recreation. They developed right into a staff with one of the costly quarterbacks in soccer and that couldn’t rush the passer. I don’t suppose Carroll, in his coronary heart, believed that change was for the higher.”
That’s actually the crux of the difficulty, and Barnwell is spot on. This was a staff that by no means felt snug in what it had develop into, and the product confirmed on the sector. Because the Seahawks’ offense grew to become extra explosive, with an assault led by Wilson, Tyler Lockett and D.Okay. Metcalf, Seattle wasn’t getting higher, and even taking part in in addition to they used to. Video games grew to become nearer, contests that was once straightforward wins have been not gimmes, and these delicate struggles actually rang via within the playoffs, the place the Seahawks hadn’t made it previous the divisional playoff spherical since 2014.
When offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was fired in 2021 for “philosophical variations” it was the clearest signal Seattle was seeking to transfer in a special route. He was a proponent of the Air Coryell system, a quick West Coast-style passing assault that prioritized verticality up the seams, deemphasized working consequently. Schottenheimer was changed with Shane Waldron, who lower his tooth in Los Angeles with Sean McVay. McVay has all the time preached a run-pass steadiness, way more akin to the offenses Carroll favored of the previous.
Whereas McVay wanted Matthew Stafford to lastly recover from the hump, the offensive ideas being utilized don’t necessitate having an elite quarterback of Wilson’s caliber, particularly with the value related to it.
There’s actually a college of thought that the Seattle removed the fallacious man. I perceive those that suppose a premium ought to have been positioned on protecting Wilson, even when that meant eliminating Pete Carroll — however the resolution has been made. For higher or worse the Seahawks will transfer ahead with a better eye on getting again what gained them a Tremendous Bowl. That might fly within the face of typical trendy pondering if we assume this implies working the ball extra and passing much less, however that’s the plan.
So we had a state of affairs the place the teaching employees wasn’t pleased with their staff building, a quarterback rising pissed off with the shortage of success, and a vendor’s market on elite passers. Wilson was essentially the most useful QB out there with the information Aaron Rodgers was returning to Inexperienced Bay, so Seattle pulled the set off.
I’ve seen it stated that Seattle obtained too little in return, however I believe that’s largely overblown. Rumors had reached a degree the place proposed trades have been tantamount to mendacity about fish measurement. Getting three first spherical choose and extra is one thing that simply isn’t taking place, no matter what’s been reported. It’s my fervent perception that getting two first spherical picks, two second spherical picks, in addition to a younger, beginning tight finish in Noah Fant was an amazing return.
It will look even higher if the Seahawks hadn’t traded two firsts away for Jamal Adams, however no less than it helps right that mistake.
Now the Seahawks can rebuild with some important belongings. Whether or not that entails playing on somebody like Malik Willis within the draft, or ready and taking part in Drew Lock in 2022. Both approach, I believe there’s one thing laudable about recognizing the established order wasn’t working, the NFC West had develop into soccer’s most brutal division, and as an alternative of attempting to enter that arms race, stepping again, evaluating and seeking to retool. It’s a top quality we don’t see groups do sufficient, as they desperately flounder for middling success with out understanding {that a} rebuild is required.
So whereas it’s powerful to swallow now, I believe the Seahawks are a lot, a lot better positioned transferring ahead, and their future is brighter.
