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Russell Wilson could have been traded to the Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Commanders ahead of the 2022 season, but turned it down.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that at points during the 2022 Combine, he was convinced that the Eagles or Commanders would trade for Russell Wilson but he made it clear that he would only want to be traded to the Broncos, which the Seahawks ultimately traded him to last year.
Rapoport made the comments during an appearance on The 33rd Team’s Joey Mulinaro’s podcast after he was asked about “the juiciest rumor he’s heard” at the Scouting Combine, and Ian described the Wilson trade rumors as something that “shook my brain.”
Video: "It turned out that it was not something he was into, and he was only into going to the Broncos."pic.twitter.com/6G1jzE54Tn
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 16, 2023
“That was one where you kind of stopped everything and you’re like ‘hang on,'” said Rapoport. “Now it turned out that that was not something he was into, and he was only into going to the Broncos and I think we know the story.”
The Eagles ended up sticking with quarterback Jalen Hurts last season after Wilson rejected a trade there. Hurts went on to have a stellar season, with many even thinking he should’ve been named MVP. He led the Eagles to the Super Bowl, which he nearly won with an amazing individual performance of 4 total touchdowns and over 400 yards of offense.
Meanwhile, Wilson struggled to lead the Broncos to points in 2022. Despite having a great defense, Denver ended up with a losing record. Wilson threw for 3,524 yards, only 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The Commanders, on the other hand, are still seeking a long-term answer at quarterback. Sam Howell is currently listed on top of the depth chart, but he has yet to inspire confidence in the team’s management or fan base.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Wilson and the Broncos, but one thing is for sure: the NFL is never short on surprises.