CHICAGO — The Denver Broncos’ firing of coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday after 15 games was a reminder of how fortunate the Chicago Bears are that the Seattle Seahawks rebuffed their effort to trade for Russell Wilson.
The Seahawks’ decision to keep Wilson for another season before shipping him to the Broncos is a great example of how sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make. The Broncos in March sent two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, tight end Noah Fant and quarterback Drew Lock to the Seahawks for Wilson and a fourth-round pick. Couple that with the massive five-year, $242 million contract with $161 million guaranteed and Wilson could be an anchor the franchise cannot retrieve for several years.
The Bears and former general manager Ryan Pace likely would have paid three first-round picks and then some for Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection in 10 seasons in Seattle, but Pace never got down to hashing out specific compensation before Seahawks GM John Schneider said there would be no trade. Wilson has had a disastrous season and was benched in a 51-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day after throwing three interceptions.
