Seahawks tried to trade Russell Wilson multiple times before split in 2022
When the Seattle Seahawks traded quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos earlier this year, the team’s front office implied that the trade was essentially all Wilson’s own doing.
Wilson denied that, saying he “didn’t initiate it.” Shortly thereafter, reports emerged that Seattle had initiated the original trade talks with Denver about Wilson, not the other way around.
It seems that the Seahawks were shopping the QB for several years, and not at his own request.
Earlier this week, ESPN reported that Seattle tried to trade Wilson to the Cleveland Browns in 2018 in exchange for the No. 1 draft pick. That trade obviously didn’t materialize, but the talks demonstrate that it was the Seahawks who initially started down a path toward a split with Wilson.
During his media availability on Thursday, Wilson was asked about the ESPN report. He was diplomatic in his response while also acknowledging that it did happen.
“They tried to [trade me] a couple times and tried to see what was out there,” Wilson said. “It’s part of the business, and it’s part of being a professional and everything else. Upset is probably the wrong word. I believe in my talent and who I am. I believe I am one of the best in the world. I don’t worry about anything else other than that. I think my focus has always been on winning, what we can do, how we can add great players and everything else.”
Wilson will get his first opportunity to prove that Seattle made a mistake when the Broncos face the Seahawks on Monday Night Football in Week 1. That much-watch showdown will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.
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