Russell to the Rockies! Seahawks’ Wilson ‘is traded to the QB-starved Broncos’

The Denver Broncos may have finally found their quarterback: Russell Wilson. 

The longtime Seattle Seahawks star has waived his no-trade clause and agreed to a new contract, in principle, with Denver, ESPN reported. The deal has been in the works since Saturday, according to ESPN. 

The NFL Network is reporting that the Seahawks are sending Wilson and a fourth-round pick to Denver for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-rounder, as well as quarterback Drew Lock, defensive end Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant. 

The Broncos did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for confirmation. However, the team Twitter account did leave a pretty obvious clue by posting a GIF from the movie ‘Castaway,’ in which Tom Hanks’s character interacts with his friend, a volleyball named ‘Wilson.’ 

Denver was thought to be in the running for Aaron Rodgers before the reigning MVP agreed to stay in Green Bay on Tuesday. In response, the Broncos dealt for another Super Bowl-winning quarterback, who happens to be five years younger than the 38-year-old Rodgers.  

It was just a few weeks ago that Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said he had no plans to move the Pro Bowl passer. 

‘It’s commonplace for us to have conversations with teams about all of the players, particularly marquee players,’ Carroll said last week 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.’ 

Wilson, who turns 34 in November and is entering his 11th NFL season, has started for the Seahawks since 2012. 

Interestingly, Wilson’s biggest moment on the football field came against the Broncos in 2014, when he led the Seahawks to an emphatic 43-8 win in Super Bowl XLVIII. The former University of Wisconsin star had 206 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns for the game.

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.

It was just a few weeks ago that Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (pictured) said he had no plans to move the Pro Bowl passer 

Wilson and singer wife Ciara have three children in addition to an older child she shares with an ex. Wilson recently asked her to have more kids on an episode of Ellen

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.

The Broncos have struggled to find a quarterback since Peyton Manning’s retirement following the 2015 season. 

Wilson and singer wife Ciara have three children in addition to an older child she shares with an ex. Wilson recently asked her to have more kids on an episode of Ellen.