The NFL QB carousel just got even crazier. Russell Wilson has made it clear that he is not happy with his current situation in Seattle. Now, he has taken it a step further by naming the four teams that he would be willing to remove his no-trade clause for. Although he has not officially demanded a trade from the Seahawks, the relationship is clearly fractured.
According to Adam Schefter, Wilson has listed the Cowboys, Saints, Raiders, and Bears as the four teams he would be willing to play for. But, he would prefer to continue playing in Seattle.
According to the NFL Network’s Mike Silver, the Seattle Seahawks would be open to trading Wilson if they could get three first-round picks. To clarify, those picks would be essential even to get the ball rolling on a deal.
If the Seahawks and Wilson decide to part ways, here are the best potential landing spots for Russell to continue his career.
No. 4 – Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears were the biggest surprise to make Russell Wilson’s list. However, that does not mean that it wouldn’t be a good fit. The Bears have a solid defense but have struggled in recent years to find a franchise quarterback. Russ would solve their problem instantly.
Bears players have made it clear that they would love to see Russell come to Chicago. Now, it just comes down to how much the Bears would be willing to give up to acquire him. The Bears also found themselves linked to Deshaun Watson in recent trade rumors. That is to say, that this is a destination that many elite QB’s have an interest in.
The Bears find themselves as the lowest option on the list simply because they don’t quite have the assets necessary to orchestrate a deal. It is unlikely that the Seahawks would want Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles. On top of that, it would take a multitude of picks and potentially cut some solid veterans to pull a deal off.
If the Bears could acquire Russell Wilson, they would turn into legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
No. 3 – New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are the best team on Russell Wilson’s list. But, the Saints find themselves in cap hell for the next few seasons. After going far beyond the cap in an attempt to secure Drew Brees another ring, the Saints have no expendable money to afford Russ. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying.
Although Drew Brees has not officially retired yet, it is likely to be announced within the coming weeks.
The Saints would have to go far beyond the Seahawk’s asking price to accommodate Wilson’s salary. This would mean that the Saints would have to package a group of players on top of the multiple first-round picks just for the deal to be financially possible.
The Saints can compete for a championship today with Russell Wilson. But that doesn’t mean that it will be easy to pry him from the Seahawks.
No. 2 – Dallas Cowboys
There is no bigger player in the NFL than the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. From a branding perspective for Russ, heading down to Dallas makes plenty of sense. On top of that, the Cowboys have a solid offensive line and great weapons to complement Wilson.
Jerry Jones and Dak Prescott have failed to reach an agreement on a long-term contract. Meaning that it’s entirely possible to do tag-and-trade with Dak and Russ. The Seahawks would get a 27-year-old QB who has shown that he is a borderline elite QB, and the Cowboys could immediately contend for a title.
The Cowboys have not made the Super Bowl since 1995. But Russell Wilson could be exactly what the Cowboys need to win their 6th Lombardi Trophy.
No. 1 – Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have the most realistic shot at acquiring Russell Wilson. The Raiders have cap space, a crop of young players Seattle could want, and the ability to compete right away with Russ as their quarterback.
A QB swap could be something that would make sense for both teams. Derek Carr is coming off of an excellent season with the Raiders, and Russell Wilson has solidified himself as a top-five quarterback in the NFL. Being able to acquire Carr and potentially gaining 3 first-round picks would be great compensation for Russell.
If Seattle wanted to remain competitive, Carr would provide them with that ability. Meaning that they could use the draft capita that they would gain from the deal to build around the 29-year-old instead of going all-in on a rebuild.
Losing out on a quarterback of Wilson’s caliber is never a good thing. However, the Raiders would be able to compensate the Seahawks very well in the event of a trade.
