Seahawks Nearly Pulled Off 2019 Draft Move That Might Have Frustrated 49ers for Years

Nearly traded Russell Wilson, not Kyler Murray

The Seattle Seahawks nearly made a blockbuster trade in the 2019 NFL Draft that could have changed the course of their franchise – and the NFC West. According to a report from The Athletic, the Seahawks were in talks with the Arizona Cardinals about a deal that would have sent quarterback Russell Wilson to the desert in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick. The Cardinals ultimately decided to select Kyler Murray with that pick, but the Seahawks’ willingness to trade Wilson is a sign that they were considering a major shakeup at the time.

Why did the Seahawks consider a trade?

There were a few reasons why the Seahawks were willing to listen to offers for Wilson in 2019. First, the team was coming off a disappointing 9-7 season in which they missed the playoffs. Second, Wilson was entering the final year of his contract and was due for a big pay raise. Third, the Seahawks had a young and talented quarterback in Jacob Eason on their roster who they believed could be ready to take over as the starter.

Ultimately, the Seahawks decided to keep Wilson and gave him a new contract worth $140 million. However, the fact that they were willing to trade him shows that they were not entirely confident in his long-term future with the team. While the Seahawks would go on to win the NFC West in 2020 and 2021, they have not been able to reach the Super Bowl since their victory in 2013.

What if the Seahawks had traded Wilson?

It is impossible to know for sure what would have happened if the Seahawks had traded Wilson for the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. However, it is likely that the Cardinals would have selected Murray with that pick, just as they did in real life.

Murray has been a good quarterback for the Cardinals, but he has not been as good as Wilson. In three seasons with the Cardinals, Murray has led the team to a 23-21-1 record, including a playoff appearance in 2021. Wilson, meanwhile, has led the Seahawks to a 40-15-1 record in three seasons, including two NFC West titles and a Super Bowl appearance in 2020.

If the Seahawks had traded Wilson for Murray, it is likely that they would not have been as successful in recent years. Murray is a good quarterback, but he is not as good as Wilson, and the Seahawks would have had to make some significant changes to their offense to accommodate his skill set.

Conclusion: The Seahawks made the right choice

The Seahawks ultimately made the right decision by keeping Wilson. He is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and he has been the driving force behind the team’s success in recent years. While it is always fun to speculate about what might have happened if the Seahawks had traded Wilson, it is clear that they made the right choice by keeping him.