What is likely to happen
In all likelihood, the Seahawks will try to repair their relationship with Wilson. He hasn’t requested a trade and wants to stay in Seattle, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Seahawks’ QB Russell Wilson has not demanded a trade, his agent Mark Rodgers told ESPN. Wilson has told the Seahawks he wants to play in Seattle but, if a trade were considered, the only teams he would go to are the Cowboys, Saints, Raiders, Bears.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2021
That’s a salvageable situation given Seattle’s winning seasons, which include four division titles over the last nine years. Also, financially, the Seahawks would take on a $39 million dead cap hit if they traded Wilson, per Spotrac:
Trading Russell Wilson won’t be pretty for the #Seahawks.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) February 25, 2021
Pre June 1st Dead Cap
$39M (-$7M saved)
Post June 1st Dead Cap
2021: $13M ($19M saved)
2022: $26M
New Team Acquires
2021: $19M (GTD)
2022: $24M
2023: $27Mhttps://t.co/nHn1tI6ke1
If Wilson’s ties to Seattle continue to deteriorate through the upcoming campaign, the Raiders would have a decent chance to land him next offseason. His dead cap (guaranteed money) drops from $58 million this year to $26 million in 2022.
Vegas will have a projected $72.8 million in cap space next season, so the club wouldn’t encounter any financial issues while building around him.
Furthermore, the Raiders would have a better sense of Brown’s future with the team if he makes it through this offseason, the same goes for Jackson. Even though Mayock and Gruden would have to give up premium draft picks for Wilson, they would have enough money to sign free agents.
With that said, Raiders fans who want Wilson in Las Vegas shouldn’t get their hopes up about these initial rumors because it’s too early to connect dots since the star quarterback hasn’t come to the point of requesting a move.
The Athletic confirmed CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora’s list of possible trade destinations, which also includes the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and New Orleans Saints among other teams. Schefter added the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears to the mix.
With time to mend fences in Seattle and all the potential trade suitors, you should still place your bets on Carr as the starter in Vegas for the 2021 season. If the Seahawks and Wilson remain at odds after the upcoming campaign, then we can have a legitimate conversation about a swap that involves Wilson and Carr.