Russell Wilson’s Trade To Broncos Could Go Down As Biggest ‘Heist’ In History According to Ex-Seahawks Teammate

Russell Wilson

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Former Seattle Seahawks linebacker KJ Wright expressed his belief that Russell Wilson’s trade to the Denver Broncos in 2022 “Could go down as the biggest trade heist in NFL history.”

In a recent appearance on the Good Morning Football show, Wright, who played alongside Wilson for several seasons, added that after a disappointing 2022 season in Denver, Wilson’s legacy is now on the line.

Wright further praised Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider, stating that they “look like geniuses” for orchestrating the trade.

The Russell Wilson trade included the Broncos sending multiple top picks, including two picks with in the top 10 of the first and second round for the veteran passer.

Wright emphasized that Wilson’s performance in the upcoming season is crucial for his legacy. According to Wright, Wilson needs to win games because people’s jobs are on the line.

Wright noted that: “If Russell doesn’t figure it out this year, his legacy is definitely on the line.”

As an example, he pointed out that the Broncos hired Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach in 2022, but he was fired before the season even ended due to the team’s poor performance under Wilson.

Wright expressed his hope that Wilson’s friends and family are advising him to step up and meet the expectations placed upon him.

Wright’s perspective carries weight, as he was a key member of the renowned “Legion of Boom” defense that dominated the NFL during the early to mid-2010s.

The Legion of Boom featured star players such as cornerback Richard Sherman, safety Earl Thomas, linebacker Bobby Wagner, and pass-rushers Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril, among others.

Many believe that it was this formidable defense that played a significant role in helping Wilson secure his only Super Bowl victory in 2013.

In that game, the Seahawks defeated Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos by a resounding score of 43-8, marking the largest margin of victory for an underdog in Super Bowl history. Notably, it was the first time that the winning team scored over 40 points while holding their opponent to under 10.

Considering that the Broncos had scored the most points ever in the regular season, the success of the Seahawks’ defense played a crucial role in the triumph, with Wilson often seen as benefiting from their stellar performance.

Throughout his tenure with the Seahawks, Wilson demonstrated improvement as a passer. Despite being selected in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft, he went on to make nine Pro Bowl appearances and was named 2nd team All-Pro once. However, as the Seahawks’ defense aged and declined, the team never replicated their early playoff success under Wilson’s leadership.

In February, The Athletic reported that Wilson had requested the Seahawks’ ownership to fire Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider last year.

Although Wilson lost the power struggle and ended up being traded to the Broncos instead, the report sheds light on the strained relationship between Wilson and the Seahawks organization. Given Wilson’s current struggles, it seems that the Seahawks are benefiting from the trade, further supporting Wright’s assertion that they appear superior in hindsight.

As the 2023 NFL season approaches, all eyes will be on Russell Wilson to see if he can rise to the occasion and reclaim his status as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.  The outcome of this pivotal season will undoubtedly impact Wilson’s legacy and shape the perception of the Seahawks’ decision to trade him to the Broncos.

The full details of the trade between the Seahawks and the Broncos are as follows:

Seahawks received:

5th overall pick in 2023 Draft (turned into CB Devon Witherspoon)

9th overall pick in 2022 Draft (turned into LT Charles Cross)

2nd round pick in 2022 Draft (turned into Edge Boye Mafe)

2nd round pick in 2023 Draft (turned into Edge Derick Hall)

5th round pick in 2022 Draft (turned into LB Tyreke Smith)

TE Noah Fant (Originally was a 2019 1st round pick)

QB Drew Lock (Originally was a 2019 2nd round pick)

Veteran DL Shelby Harris

Broncos received:

QB Russell Wilson

4th Round pick in 2022 (turned into DE Eyioma Uwazurike)

Notably, the Broncos also signed Wilson to a lucrative 5-year, $245 million contract extension following the trade, which the Seahawks managed to avoid.