Talking about Russell Wilson leaving the Seattle Seahawks is viewed as crazy talk by quite a few fans and analysts around the NFL, but with contract talks not moving along there is a real possibility that he could hit free agency. Neither Wilson or the Seahawks is giving in to the other sides demands, and Seattle has every right to deny him the demand that he has to be the NFL’s highest paid quarterback. He still has a long ways to go in development, and it wouldn’t be out of the question that he ends up playing for another team in 2016.
A recent report from Pro Football Talk states that quite a few whispers are beginning to make their way around the NFL that Wilson will indeed be heading somewhere else for his next contract.
Been hearing from plenty of folks since posting latest Russell Wilson blurb. Current prediction: He’s playing for someone else in 2016.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 26, 2015
Needless to say, this is a very interesting turn for teams around the NFL in need of a long-term answer at the quarterback position. Wilson is the type of talent that many of those teams would be willing to pay a high price for, and there are a few teams that might just give him the type of contract that he is desiring. One of those potential suitors could end up being Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles opines Rant Sports columnist Timothy Downs.
That being said, could the Eagles really make a push at signing Wilson if he hits the open free agency market?
Kelly has already made it very clear that he isn’t scared to make big moves. He traded away star running back LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills, and then ended up signing DeMarco Murray to replace him. Not only did he make those two moves, he also pulled off a blockbuster deal at the quarterback position by trading Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for Sam Bradford.
Spending big money on a quarterback like Wilson if he hits the open market would be right up Kelly’s ally. He would be getting a long-term franchise caliber quarterback, as well as a player who can run his offense to the best of its ability. There aren’t many quarterbacks with the speed and athleticism that Wilson has shown throughout his career to this point, and that is exactly what the Eagles need under center.
During the 2014 season with the Seahawks, Wilson ended up throwing for 3,475 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven touchdowns.
Those numbers are certainly solid, but they are not worthy of being the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Wilson did pick up 849 yards and six touchdowns on the ground as well, but it still doesn’t make him an elite quarterback. He has quite a bit of work to do on his arm in order to take that next step, although he hasn’t been given elite weapons to work with through the air either.
Philadelphia isn’t going to want either Sam Bradford or Mark Sanchez as their quarterback long-term, and if Wilson does hit the market, they are a team to watch. Whether or not the Eagles would be able to afford the type of money he wants or not is a completely different question. Despite that fact, it is a move that Kelly would be all over and would try to make happen.
At just 26 years old, Wilson is heading into his fourth NFL season and has shown improvement in each year. He still hasn’t shown the big improvement that the Seahawks were hoping to see last year from his arm, but he still has plenty of time to make those improvements.
Obviously there is still a chance that the Seahawks and Wilson are able to figure a new deal out before he hits free agency. Both parties are going to remain in contact, and if Seattle decides to give into Wilson’s contract demands then the two sides will have a deal. However, if they do not end up coming to an agreement the Eagles would be one of the most interested teams in making something happen.
Don’t expect to see him end up in Philadelphia, but it is certainly an interesting thought to say the least.
