Seahawks: Here’s why the Seattle can’t trade Russell Wilson this offseason

Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks seem headed for a divorce at some point, but a trade is not happening this offseason.

Ordinarily full of cliches and catch-phrases (“Go “Hawks!”) during media appearances, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was remarkably and refreshingly candid this week on The Dan Patrick Show. He wants the offense to go a different direction, he’s tired of being hit all the time and he doesn’t necessarily know if he’s available or not.

Apparently, as expected, the Seahawks aren’t too happy with Wilson letting his frustrations out publicly. So the idea of a trade is out there, with some betting favorites, and movement toward a long-mentioned possible parting of ways might hit warp speed now.

It’s fun to speculate on who might trade for Wilson, with the list of possible suitors pretty much just as long as the list of possible suitors for Deshaun Watson. But there’s a harsh reality to kill all that speculative buzz about a new piece of the offseason quarterback carousel, at least for now.

Russell Wilson won’t be traded this offseason

As Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap reminds us, Wilson has a no-trade clause. A trade would also trigger a $39 million dead money charge for the Seahawks this year. A trade happening before June 1 is the important caveat to that $39 million in dead money for Seattle. But it’s not as if a team will trade for him, then not officially have him in the mix from the start of whatever offseason work looks like.

Wilson won’t be going anywhere he doesn’t want to go, but a year from now if things don’t get better in Seattle, he may be ready to practically say “anywhere but here.” He’ll have two years left on his contract then, and the financial implications of a trade change for the Seahawks (via Over The Cap). As unlikely as a post-June 1 trade would be, I’ve included it anyway.

• 2022, Trade (pre-June 1): $26 million dead money for the Seahawks; $11 million in cap savings
• 2022, Trade (post-June 1): $13 million in dead money for the Seahawks; $24 million in cap savings

Wilson also has a $5 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2022 league year, which the Seahawks will probably want to avoid doling out if he’s going to be gone.

Though he’ll never say so in that many words, even with some newfound candor, Wilson may indeed want out of Seattle. If he’s patient, he can get his way in 2022. It’ll work better for the Seahawks financially then, and perhaps they will have grown more weary of his calling the organization out if it continues.