Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson's agent said Thursday his client has not asked for a trade, despite plenty of trade rumors. However, if the Seahawks did want to explore a trade for their Pro-Bowl quarterback, he gave them a list of teams where Wilson would prefer to go.
Dallas, Las Vegas, Chicago, and New Orleans are the four teams to which Wilson would accept a trade. When we breakdown these potential landing spots, a couple are certainly head-scratchers.
Dallas and New Orleans make a lot of sense. Both are in an excellent spot to be contenders both next season and over the long term. Wilson would be stepping in for Dak Prescott in Dallas or a retiring Drew Brees in New Orleans. Both teams have established offenses with solid head coaches and elite wide receivers.
Chicago is a bit strange. The Bears are likely losing their best receiver, Allen Robinson, to free agency. Their offense is not all that talented, and Wilson would have to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers twice a year.
Las Vegas is even stranger. Why would he want to have to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs twice a year in the AFC West? Then, he would likely have to face them again in the playoffs to reach the Super Bowl.
Dallas and New Orleans are the best fit and have the easiest path to the playoffs in the near future. A trade to either of those teams would also allow him to make a Super Bowl without facing Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers twice a year.
Usually, in these situations where there is smoke, there is fire. Wilson has said he has not asked for a trade, but I can see how this ends up resulting in a trade not too long after the league flips the calendar to the new league year.
Deshaun Watson Still Wants Out
The total opposite of the Russell Wilson situation is happening in Houston right now. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has expressed his desire to never take another snap for the franchise again.
Even after meeting with new head coach David Culley this week, Watson's mind has not changed. He wants out as soon as possible.
The pushback from both Culley and the organization continues. Both have stated multiple times that Watson is a Texan, and they intend on having Watson starting at quarterback in Week 1 of the 2021 season.
Much like Wilson, Watson has a shortlist of teams he is interested in playing for after a trade. Those teams are Denver, Miami, San Francisco, and the New York Jets.
Watson has a no-trade clause included in the four-year $156 million contract extension he signed back in September of 2020. That allows him to control exactly where he gets traded to if Houston chooses to go down that path.
At only 25 years old and coming off a career season in which he set personal bests in passing yards and touchdowns, Houston should expect quite a haul of draft picks and NFL talent in return for the Pro Bowl quarterback.