SEATTLE — Russell Wilson's reported benching Wednesday represents the latest chapter in what has been one of the most scrutinized and maligned trades in recent NFL history.
The longtime Seahawk has been demoted by his head coach with the Denver Broncos, KUSA's Mike Klis reported Thursday citing sources. Wilson will backup Jarrett Stidham for the final two games of the Broncos' season.
Reports indicate that this was a football-related decision, as the team's offense has struggled during a 1-3 skid that put Denver's playoff hopes in the balance. Klis also reported that an injury guarantee in Wilson's contract factored into the decision, as keeping him injury-free the last two games of the regular season will save the team nearly $40 million.
Since being sent by the Seahawks to the Broncos in March 2022, Wilson's national perception as a football player has taken a nosedive. He followed up signing a $240-plus million contract by throwing just 16 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions, completing just over 60% of his passes and leading the league in sacks taken over his first year in Denver.
Wilson's performance improved significantly this season, but the Broncos' defensive regression held the team back in the first half of the season. Wilson leads the league in game-winning drives and the Broncos already have won two more games this season than they did all of last year.
However, the team has lost 3 of 4 games, including Sunday's shortfall against the lowly New England Patriots. It appears the Broncos now believe Stidham, who has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in his NFL career and never won a regular-season game as a starter, gives Denver a better chance of winning.
Now that all the picks have been used, here is a recap of what each side gained from the Wilson trade.
Broncos receive
- Quarterback Russell Wilson
- DL Eyioma Uwazurike (2022 - 4th round pick)
Seahawks receive
- Quarterback Drew Lock
- Tight end Noah Fant
- Defensive lineman Shelby Harris (currently an NFL free agent)
- OT Charles Cross (2022 - 1st round pick)
- OLB Boye Mafe (2022 - 2nd round pick)
- OLB Tyreke Smith (2022 - 5th round pick)
- CB Devon Witherspoon (2023 - 1st round pick)
- EDGE Derick Hall (2023 - 2nd round pick)
Lock didn't see a single snap in his first season in Seattle, but provided an enormous boost to the team's 2023 playoff chances by leading a game-winning drive against the Philadelphia Eagles while Geno Smith was out with an injury.
Fant has 77 catches for 841 yards and four touchdowns so far in his Seattle career, serving as one of the team's key pass-catchers. Harris did not re-sign with the Seahawks in the offseason and joined the Cleveland Browns in August.
Cross became the Seahawks' immediate starter at left tackle and has held that role whenever healthy. Mafe has 9 sacks in 14 starts for the Seahawks in 2023, becoming one of the top up-and-coming pass rushers the league has to offer.
Smith spent most of his Seahawks tenure on the practice squad, playing in just 1 game before being signed by the Arizona Cardinals earlier this month.
Witherspoon got off to a slow start, but has developed into one of the league's best rookie defensive players and looks like a future star at the cornerback position. Hall has made 29 tackles in 15 games for the Seahawks this season.
Uwazurike, on the other hand, was suspended by the NFL indefinitely and faces felony identity theft charges after being accused of secretly betting on sports while playing college football.
Wilson is under contract for five more years with the Broncos, but there are potential outs that could cut his tenure short in Denver.
Although it has become very easy for Seattle fans to pile on Wilson in the wake of his departure, his decorated career as a Seahawk still deserves to be celebrated years down the line. He brought the city its only Super Bowl -- along with a star running back in Marshawn Lynch and an elite defense -- and went to nine Pro Bowls while doing so much good around the western Washington community.
Wilson also could turn all of this around next year and put together a much better season in 2024. The Broncos are a historically successful franchise, and have a new owner that likely will spend whatever it takes to turn things around.
However, this is the second consecutive disappointing end to a season for Wilson in his Broncos career.
Wednesday's news is further evidence that Wilson's time in the Mile High City has been anything but so far, while the grass gets yet another shade greener in the Emerald City.