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Russell Wilson is starting a new chapter.
After 10 seasons in Seattle, the Seahawks agreed on Tuesday to a deal that will send their star quarterback to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a king's ransom worth of picks and players.
—Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2022
The trade reshapes the divisional power of the NFL, making the already fearsome AFC West into the toughest division in football.
Between Patrick Mahomes with the Chiefs, Justin Herbert with the Chargers, and now Russell Wilson with the Broncos, it's arguable that three of the top six quarterbacks in the NFL play in the AFC West.
If Derek Carr is the worst quarterback in your division, your division is extremely challenging.
The Wilson trade is a move that makes sense for both the Broncos and the Seahawks. In Denver, the Broncos were holding what looked like a Super Bowl ready roster without a quarterback to get them there. Wilson was one of two top-tier quarterbacks potentially on the move this offseason, and after Rodgers made clear his intention to re-sign with the Packers this morning, the Broncos were still able to land one of the two top prizes that instantly turn them into Super Bowl contenders.
For the Seahawks, moving on from Wilson will undoubtedly be difficult, but the franchise looks to be moving towards a rebuild and no piece on their roster could instantly return more assets than Wilson. Further, while the details of the trade are still coming out, there are few teams in the NFL with a trove of assets worth bartering for than the Broncos.
The last time the Broncos made a move for a superstar quarterback, Peyton Manning was lifting the Lombardi Trophy for the Mile High faithful four years later, taking the team to two Super Bowls over his brief time in Denver.
With this next chapter of his career, Wilson will look to find similar success with a team that appears ready to make the leap.
