5 possible trade destinations for Russell Wilson after Denver nightmare
Things are not going well for Russell Wilson at the moment. After just one disastrous season with the Denver Broncos, he could be put on the trade market, but where could he end up?
There are destinations for the former Super Bowl champion. He hasn’t lost all his quarterback talent overnight, but there are concerns that he is headed for a sharp end-of-career decline.
With that being said, teams across the NFL are desperate for a good QB. This has been the case since the sport took off in North America and will remain so forevermore.
Wilson’s record speaks for itself. Worse quarterbacks have been given chances by teams looking for a shortcut to glory. That will happen again with Wilson should the Broncos cut their losses in 2023.
Yet, if that happens, just where can he realistically go? There are serious salary cap concerns given the scale of the contract the Broncos gave him, and this could impact his market.
Will the Russell Wilson trade go down as the worst move in NFL history? https://t.co/Gl8BUOxrQ7
Which 5 teams are most likely to trade for Russell Wilson?
5. Detroit Lions
Jared Goff has played well in Detroit, but nothing more. It’s obvious he isn’t the guy who will lead them to a Super Bowl. Therefore, the Detroit Lions need to make a call on if they think they are ready to try and climb that mountain.
Aidan Hutchinson being selected first overall in 2022 was a big moment. Finally, the Lions have a generational talent on defense and can build around him.
Detroit’s offense needs to improve, and that starts at the quarterback position. Goff, unfortunately, has an expensive contract, but it does have an out clause at the end of the 2022 season.
It’s not inconceivable that the Denver Broncos could look at Goff’s yardage stats in 2021 and 2022 and decide he could be a worthy stop-gap in order to simply get rid of Russell Wilson and his crippling contract.
This becomes more attractive if the Broncos believe Goff will get cut by the Lions anyway. Instead, they try and package Wilson for picks before signing Goff as a free agent.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady’s future in the NFL hasn’t yet been decided. He may retire after the 2022 season or look to continue and win another Super Bowl.
What is guaranteed, however, is that TB12 will not be back for a fourth year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He spent a lot of the last offseason exploring ways to get traded to the Miami Dolphins, and it’s likely they will battle with the San Francisco 49ers to sign the GOAT in 2023.
This leaves the Bucs in a difficult spot. They had no real contingency plan for Brady’s retirement last year, and will know they need one heading into 2023.
Tampa has a hugely talented roster with a brilliant defense. Their issue in 2022 has been a lack of receiving weapons around Brady.
Having Russell Wilson would alleviate some of those problems, simply because of his ability to rush and make plays on his own.
Russell Wilson could take the Tampa offense in a more dynamic direction, which would take pressure off the defense. Furthermore, the cost of Brady’s deal means it wouldn’t necessarily see the Bucs lose too much cap space.
Russell Wilson would be going into a winning environment with talented players. A fresh start is sometimes all a struggling player needs. In terms of positive situations for a QB to walk into, there are few better than the 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
3. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are stuck in an endless cycle of needing a quarterback and never having the talented pieces on the roster to truly tempt an elite free agent.
Issues over the team’s ownership and suitability for elite players have made the franchise appear less attractive in recent years.
If ever they needed a star, it is in 2023. What could work in their favor is the fact that the former Seattle Seahawks starter is desperate for a clean slate, too.
He knows the area well. After his spell with the Seahawks, it wouldn’t take a huge effort to relocate and settle. The pressure to perform wouldn’t be as high due to the fact that the Commanders are a poor football team.
This pressure-free environment would work wonders for Wilson’s confidence, especially if the team are able to have a strong rookie draft on the offensive side of the ball.
Carson Wentz’s contract is problematic, but could, once again, be traded to Denver to ensure the Broncos, at least, have a serviceable starter in 2023.
The Seahawks will have a very high first-round pick from the Broncos, for Russell Wilson, who has regressed.
The Lions will have a very high first round pick from the Rams for Matthew Stafford, who is out for the year with a neck injury.
Trades can only be evaluated long-term.
2. New Orleans Saints
Replacing Drew Brees was always going to be challenging. What made things even worse in Louisiana was the subsequent exit of head coach Sean Payton.
Jameis Winston has talent as a QB. However, he just can’t stay healthy. Taysom Hill is never going to be the answer as a starter in New Orleans and the fact that the Saints are ending the 2022 season with Andy Dalton under center says everything about their plight.
Russell Wilson has been one of the league’s best quarterbacks of the past decade.
His mobile style would fit perfectly with a New Orleans offense that boasts explosive playmakers.
Alvin Kamara’s presence would take responsibility off Russell Wilson’s shoulders to do everything, which is what has contributed to his struggles in the Mile High City.
Hill’s contract is problematic in terms of an inclusion in any trade, but the Broncos may decide it’s worth giving a wildcard a chance for one season simply to get Wilson’s $242 million deal off their books.
1. New York Giants
The Giants have been much better than anticipated in 2022. Saquon Barkley has performed at a Pro Bowl-standard and has really taken control of the offense.
Daniel Jones hasn’t done enough to secure a second contract with the Giants. The franchise doesn’t believe in him, and they have an awful lot of money to play with in the offseason.
Cap space isn’t an issue for the Giants. Offensive weapons aren’t an issue for the Giants. So why not Russell Wilson?
It may go under the radar, but Big Blue might be the absolute perfect trade destination for the 34-year-old.
New York is a mega market and would totally fit into Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara’s lifestyle. The team has good players in pretty much every position, and they can afford his contract.
One downside could be the pressure of the Big Apple for a player coming off his worst ever season in the NFL, but that is a risk in any trade involving New York franchises.
The Giants need to take a risk. They haven’t had an elite quarterback since Eli Manning, and the Daniel Jones experiment hasn’t worked.
They are too good to claim one of the best QB prospects in the 2023 draft. Their only option is to utilize their vast pool of cash to fix their problem at the position.
Nobody stands out as a better candidate than Russell Wilson. He has everything the Giants have been crying out for.
They can afford his contract. Since it is their position of greatest need, this could be the biggest trade of the 2023 offseason.