When it comes to Russell Wilson trade rumors, the silence out of Seattle is, as they say, deafening.
Unlike the Raiders, Texans, Giants, and Cowboys, who have/had clearly professed a desire to keep their respective quarterbacks amidst a barrage of trade rumors, the Seahawks haven’t really done the same. And Wilson hasn’t come to put out the flames either. None of this is to say a trade is imminent, but there’s been ample opportunity to throw cold water on all of this, and it hasn’t been taken.
Let’s get into it.
• The latest league scuttlebutt believes there’s a “good chance this could happen if a team is desperate enough.” And it comes as the Bears have, on multiple occasions, been described as the most desperate team. I guess what I’m saying is that none of this feels like a coincidence. Perhaps, then, the Bears need to show their cards and/or get a little more desperate. The Seahawks may ultimately be forced into a deal, but they still need a good explanation. Nothing works quite like a deal you can’t refuse.
• Moving on, give this a listen if you haven’t already:
Two months ago @diannaESPN would have told you there's no chance Russell Wilson gets traded. But now …
"This thing has been picking up steam … Those in league circles believe that there's a good chance this could happen if a team is desperate enough to make this trade." pic.twitter.com/Vby7QCajX6
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 11, 2021
• The biggest takeaway there? The Seahawks wouldn’t want to trade Russell Wilson to a team where he/they will have success. It’s not out of spite, mind you. It’s all about the draft. For example, Dianna Russini believes “it would be a very tough pill to swallow” to strike a deal with the Saints, where Russell would be set up with Sean Payton. In other words, if the Seahawks are to make a trade, it has to be with a team whose picks they believe will be higher in the draft despite Wilson’s arrival. And it got me thinking how familiar this narrative sounded.
• Think back to the logic applied by the Raiders in the Khalil Mack trade. They had other offers on the table. But ultimately chose the Bears, in part, because of an underlying belief that the Bears’ first-rounders would be in the upper half of the draft. As we know, that’s not how it turned out. But that’s essentially the thought process Russini is insinuating here.
• The MMQB’s Albert Breer seems to think things are lining up for a Bears big swing. And the evidence could be in the Allen Robinson tag:
“As for Allen Robinson, the writing was on the wall for this one. If you’re planning a big swing at quarterback — and the team being patient with Nick Foles as a placeholder is a good indication Chicago is sizing up a swing — it makes no sense to let one of the leagues best receivers, who’s still just 27, walk.”
• This lines up from a logic perspective for both sides. If you’re Robinson, and you’ve shown interest in staying in Chicago before, you probably want an idea what’s happening at quarterback before signing a Franchise Tag tenet or demanding a trade. And if you’re the Bears, you probably want a quarterback who you can pitch to Robinson (and perhaps others). All of this tracks.
• We try our very best not to put too much weight on “Vegas” when it comes to these sort of deals, but the fact is, sometimes, people hear things. And sometimes, those things are true. And sometimes, those things get spread aligning the betting odds closer to the real life odds of a certain thing happening. So with all that throat clearing out of the way, I mention that the Bears odds have moved up *substantially* in recent days, passing the Jets in the process (all while the Seahawks odds have drifted down to their worst number yet).
Another notable set of updates on Obsessive Russell Wilson Sportsbook Movement Watch pic.twitter.com/jlK4YGIc8S
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) March 12, 2021
• If you want to get in on that action, you can sign up for the Draftkings Illinois Sportsbook. If you click right here and make a bet, you’ll also be supporting Bleacher Nation in the process. But remember to always bet your head, not your heart! We might all want to see Russell Wilson in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean it’s definitely going to happen.
• Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog continues to inform and entertain with his use of this platform:
Good morning twitter. Offer. pic.twitter.com/EEHzs0LEdl
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) March 12, 2021
• According to Hughes, talks between the Bears and Seahawks have escalated. So much so, that in recent days, an offer was made. Hughes doesn’t dish on the offer, but we’re getting to a point where chatter needs to result in formal offers and counter-offers. That’s just how these things tend to work. You talk, throw ideas out, and if talks get serious enough, you make an offer. Ideally, from Chicago’s perspective, it’s the type of offer Seattle can’t refuse.
• Here we are, just three sleeps from the start of the NFL’s legal tampering free agency window, and we’re this stuff is continually picking up steam. Brett discussed Colin Cowherd’s remarks earlier. And while the Bears can’t give up five first-round picks, the sentiment Cowherd passes along remains true. And it’s one that is a thread that has been tied throughout the reporting of this situation. From reporters such as Adam Schefter, Dianna Russini, Josina Anderson, Jeff Darlington, and countless others. To the likes of taking heads like Cowherd. This could ultimately come down to how big an offer can get. An obscenely over-the-top offer from a desperate buyer could be fun to follow. Go big, or go home.
• Hmm…
https://twitter.com/BN_Bears/status/1370380041725562881
Michael Cerami contributed to this post.