Heaps: ‘Not buying’ that 2021 is Russell Wilson’s last year with Seahawks
Mar 12, 2021, 11:59 AM
More reports about the Seahawks possibly trading Russell Wilson came out on Wednesday. (Getty)
(Getty)
A report from Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline has trade rumors involving Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson back in the spotlight.
Related: Do Hawks want Wilson gone as much as he wants to be traded?
On Wednesday, Pauline said he was told that the Seahawks want to trade Wilson just as much as Wilson desires to leave Seattle, but Wilson’s high salary cap number makes a trade unlikely this offseason. Additionally, Pauline said a source told him that 2021 will likely be Wilson’s last year with the Seahawks.
Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard finds credence in a lot of what Pauline said (see the link at the top of the story), saying he believes Seattle’s front office is likely upset with Wilson’s offseason media blitz. But what does the other quarterback on 710 ESPN Seattle’s roster think about what Pauline had to say?
Jake Heaps of Jake and Stacy was asked what he thought of Pauline saying 2021 is likely Wilson’s last season in Seattle, and let’s just say he doesn’t agree.
“No, not buying it. Not buying it at this point,” Heaps said.
Heaps said it’s obvious there is “friction” between Wilson and the Seahawks right now and it’s not impossible that a trade happens at some point, but as of this moment he doesn’t see a trade that works for both the Seahawks or Wilson being signed off on.
“I just can’t imagine a world where the Seahawks are going to get something out of a trade that puts them in a position where you’re going to find that replacement for Russell Wilson. I just don’t think it’s going to happen,” Heaps said. “Part of the equation is I don’t think Russell Wilson (with his no-trade clause) is going to want to go to another team that is rebuilding and that is completely starting over from scratch.”
Heaps pointed to the Jets, who have two first-round picks in the 2021 and 2022 drafts thanks to a trade with the Seahawks last offseason for Jamal Adams. The Seahawks may like that the Jets could offer Seattle a lot of picks, including potentially the No. 2 pick in next month’s draft, but Wilson may not want to play for a team that is coming off a 2-14 season. Wilson reportedly is interested in being traded to the Saints, Raiders, Bears or Cowboys, but the Cowboys are almost certainly out of the running after recently signing QB Dak Prescott to a lucrative long-term deal.
“I don’t think (a trade to the Jets) has any interest to (Wilson) whatsoever, and that would be of great interest to the Seahawks because they could get a ton of draft capital where they could maybe pick a quarterback early in the first round of a draft,” Heaps said. “I just don’t see a world where both sides end up getting what they want.”
Additionally, Heaps thinks there’s still time for the Seahawks and Wilson to get on the same page.
“I don’t think (the relationship between Wilson and the Seahawks) would deteriorate enough for one of those sides to sit there and (Wilson would say), ‘I’ll sacrifice. I’ll go to a bad team,’ or (the Seahawks would say), ‘I’ll trade this player knowing that I’m not going to get the draft capital that I would want otherwise,'” Heaps said. “So I think it’s better, as I’ve said all along, if they work it out, that they have a conversation together, they get on the same page, they move forward. They will be better together.”
Tight end Greg Olsen, who spent 2020 with the Seahawks before retiring, told FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd he thinks Wilson will be the Seahawks’ starting quarterback in 2021 and that the team is at an important crossroads in terms of how it operates going forward. Heaps said he sides with Olsen at this point.
“I’m still holding out that belief until I know otherwise,” he said.
Listen to Heaps’ thoughts at this link or in the player below.
