Russell Wilson remains the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, and head coach Pete Carroll prefers to keep it that way.
Wilson, 33, said last offseason and repeated in January that he would be open to a trade. In January, he said he’s interested in “exploring options” after the Seahawks missed the playoffs.
Carroll said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine the Seahawks are not interested in moving their Pro Bowl passer.
But that doesn’t mean teams aren’t reaching out to Carroll.
“We’re talking about everybody,” Carroll said of teams touching base on player availability.
Even in a never-say-never league, Carroll claims he’ll leave such decisions to general manager John Schneider.
“It’s commonplace for us to have conversations with teams about all of the players, particularly marquee players,” Carroll said in response to a question about where Seattle stands on trade talks regarding Wilson. “That’s not changed. It’s been the same every year. It’s the same.
“We have no intention of making any move there. But the conversations, John has to field those, he always has. But nothing specific.”
Schneider said he appreciates his quarterback and gets why others are interested.
“Of course if I was another team, I’d call and say, ‘Hey, what’s up with Russell Wilson?'” Schneider said. “There was a report during the season, and then of course people are calling. At the trade deadline. Last offseason, people are calling when things are put out there (in the media).”
Wilson, who turns 34 in November, has been the starter in Seattle since 2012 and is entering his 11th NFL season. He said Tuesday night in an appearance on “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” that he plans to play until age 45.
None of Wilson’s salary is guaranteed but he has two years left on his contract and will count $37 million against the salary cap in 2022.
Last February, after being sacked more than 40 times in a season for the eighth time, Wilson raised issue with the Seahawks’ unwillingness to address the offensive line. He said he would waive his no-trade clause for the Cowboys, Saints, Bears and Raiders. Three of those teams have new head coaches and two hired new general managers since Wilson’s comment.
Wilson missed time with a broken finger in 2021 and had 25 touchdown passes. The Seahawks did not have a winning record for the first time since Wilson’s run as their starter began.
–Field Level Media
