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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson sure sounded unhappy earlier this offseason, and his agent even released a list of four potential trade partners.
But in the eyes of Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, there never was an issue and there certainly wasn’t a point in which the club entertained trading the seven-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
“I think that we’re very clear about it now,” Carroll said during the team’s pre-draft press conference on Wednesday. “He wasn’t being traded.”
Of course, an agent doesn’t release a list of trade destinations if there isn’t a high amount of tension between his client and the organization. Agent Mark Rodgers mentioned these four teams: The Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears.
Read More: Seattle Seahawks GM: Number of teams called about Russell Wilson trade
Russell Wilson trade discussions and the Seattle Seahawks
General manager John Schneider declined to reveal details about any trade discussions. Wilson has three seasons remaining on a four-year, $140 million deal.
“I was in contact with Russell’s agent,” Schneider said. “Those are conversations that stay in house.”
The end result is that the Seahawks are dashing full speed toward the 2021 season with Wilson as their quarterback.
And doing so while speculation persists that there is still mending to do between Wilson and the organization.
Carroll said that appearances can be deceiving, as in there wasn’t a problem even if it looked like there may be one.
“Russ has been our quarterback for a good while,” Carroll said. “We’ve got a long contract with him. And when all of the conversation went about trades and all that — I knew what the truth was: We weren’t trading Russell. So we plan on him being here for a good while. I don’t know how many years it is now, but we’re in great shape and a long future ahead of us is shared. Russ knows that. I know that. We’re very clear about it.
“That’s why it was really obvious that we just had to sit back and kind of let the media take its course with the topic. So we did. So we’re in good shape and both very clear about that.”
Russell Wilson and Carroll were both highly disappointed following a season that ended with Seattle’s 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card game.
A few weeks later, Wilson expressed his frustration over the amount of sacks he takes and said he wanted a voice in personnel decisions.
Carroll said there have been no changes in terms of the latter. Schneider, meanwhile, wasn’t surprised that there were some bumping of heads going on.
“Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson are two of the most passionate people I know,” Schneider said. “Passionate people say passionate things, and I think it just kind of came out.”
Carroll said his relationship with Russell Wilson is fine.
“We’ve talked extensively throughout the offseason,” Carroll said. “There wasn’t a time that went by that we weren’t in communication.”
Read More: Seattle Seahawks mock draft: 7-round 2021 NFL Draft projections
Russell Wilson and his historical run
Wilson has passed for 33,946 yards, 267 touchdowns and 81 interceptions in nine seasons with the Seahawks. He passed for a career-high 40 touchdowns last season while accumulating 4,212 yards and being intercepted a career-worst 13 times. Wilson was sacked 47 times.
He has guided the Seahawks to two Super Bowls, a 43-8 rout of the Denver Broncos in the 2013 season and a 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots the next season. Wilson threw a late interception at the goal line in the loss to New England.
The Seahawks have just three picks in the 2021 draft — a second-rounder (No. 56 overall), a fourth (No. 129) and a seventh (No. 250).
Seattle traded its first-round pick prior to last season when it acquired safety Jamal Adams from the New York Jets.
–Field Level Media