Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears fans have suffered enough. Whether we’re talking about the past few decades or the past few days, where hopes of potentially landing on Russell Wilson have been swept away and replaced by Andy Dalton’s cruel reality.
And while Bears fans seem ready to move on and accept that their team has once again been angered by the position of defender, ESPN’s Adam Schefter refuses to allow us.
On Wednesday, Schefter said he does not think Wilson’s stay in Seattle is a closed deal. He hinted that something could happen closer to the NFL draft next month.
When Schefter joined ESPN Rise on Thursday morning, he was asked if his thinking changed with one day to let it all settle down.
“It is no different,” said Schefter. “This is a situation that deserves attention when we approach the project.”
“This is a situation that deserves attention when we approach the draft.”@AdamSchefter in a possible Russell Wilson deal. pic.twitter.com/GNj7i4fj1f
– Get up (@GetUpESPN) March 18, 2021
Seattle doesn’t look like a team ready to rebuild, so swapping Wilson without a quarterback that they’re up for this season to replace him doesn’t seem like a realistic option. And Chicago currently doesn’t have an option for them, other than possibly Dalton.
“When Seahawks general manager John Schneider did due diligence on all major quarterback prospects, and he knows that any package he receives contains a quarterback he wants or the ability to get the quarterback he wants,” he said. Schefter. “The Bears have the 20th overall choice. They are not getting a high-rated prospect with that choice. They have no other quarterback on that list that they can acquire. “
The Bears would have offered three choices in the first round, one choice in the third round and two players in a package for Wilson, but the Seahawks ended up refusing. And it probably has to do with the fact that they don’t want to rebuild. If they left Wilson, they would need a viable replacement.
“Even if the Bears pursued Russell Wilson aggressively, there was really nothing they could offer the Seahawks that would change their stance at this point.
“In six weeks, we may have a different story.”
Schefter was very careful with his words throughout this situation, noting that this is where things are “right now”, which means that he is clearly not closing any door on any possibilities at this time.
But he also mentioned that the four teams on Wilson’s list of finalists have moved into the quarterback position this season, meaning Wilson may have to be open to expanding that list, unless he wants to stay in Seattle. Or maybe it means waiting for the Seahawks to finally give in closer to the project.
Don’t shoot the messenger, but Wilson’s trade discussion doesn’t seem to be over yet.