Eagles tried to acquire Russell Wilson before Broncos disaster
Maybe the Eagles really did consider trying to acquire Russell Wilson last offseason.
During a radio interview earlier this week, Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bishop said the “Eagles really wanted him” following the 2021 season — amid a stretch where they considered adding a quarterback in addition to Jalen Hurts — but that didn’t materialize.
The Eagles are probably content with that now, too, given that they made Super Bowl LVII with Hurts under center.
“I think they liked his style of play, and I think that makes sense, right, because it’s similar to Jalen Hurts, especially when he was in his prime and a little bit faster, I think, than now,” Bishop said on the “Brock and Salk Show.”
“My understanding is at that point in time, Russ wanted to stay [in Seattle], and then ultimately, that’s not what happened.”
The Seahawks eventually traded Wilson and a fourth-round pick to the Broncos and received two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Shelby Harris.
Russell Wilson was traded to the Broncos ahead of the 2022 season. Getty Images
The interest from the Eagles was previously reported by Jake Heaps, a quarterbacks coach who reportedly worked with Wilson, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport in March 2022 and April 2023, respectively.
No deal happened between Philadelphia and Denver because of Wilson’s no-trade clause.
And eventually, the Eagles decided they wanted to give Hurts everything they could to fully evaluate him in 2022, Bishop said in his radio interview, which was one of the benefits of having the former Alabama and Oklahoma star on his rookie contract.
Hurts then threw for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns, rushed for 760 yards and 13 more touchdowns and vaulted the Eagles to one of the top contenders in the league.
General manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles reportedly tried to trade for Russell Wilson before he ended up in Denver. Getty Images
Russell Wilson spent the first 10 years of his NFL career in Seattle before the trade to the Broncos. Getty Images
In Denver, though, Wilson struggled throughout the entire 2022 season — not making the Pro Bowl for just the second time in his career while throwing only 16 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions.
His 84.4 quarterback rating was the lowest of his NFL career.
Source: New York Post
