5 questions if the Carolina Panthers get involved in a potential Russell Wilson trade

Russell Wilson is the latest superstar to enter the crazy 2021 QB trade bonanza. This week, the Athletic reported about the rift between Wilson and the Seahawks’ front office, particularly coach Pete Carroll. Like Houston with Deshaun Watson, Seattle is supposedly not currently listening to any trade offers. However, it seems much more likely that Wilson could move this offseason given his age and the reports that the Seahawks considered drafting both Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

Wilson is unhappy enough to broach the subject of a trade, at least. While the Panthers aren’t on his list of preferred destinations and he holds a no-trade clause, it’s difficult to believe that Carolina wouldn’t be one of the teams who have inquired about Wilson. In fact, a recent report said that one-third of the teams around the NFL have.

Carolina may not be quite as ready for a playoff push as the teams Wilson’s agent mentioned. However, he does share a connection with general manager Scott Fitterer from their time in Seattle and he played most of his college career at NC State before transferring to Wisconsin. He may yet be convinced that Charlotte is a worthwhile destination.

Wilson isn’t Watson but he’s still a top-five talent at his position and would be a massive upgrade for this franchise. That said, if the Panthers get involved in any serious talks about a Wilson trade, here are five questions they’ll need to consider.

How many first-round draft picks would it take?

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The elephant in the room is how much draft capital would it take for Carolina (or any team) to get Wilson off Seattle's hands? If Matt Stafford can command multiple first-round picks, you can safely assume getting Wilson will require more. One report said teams believe three first-rounders will be the base for any Wilson trade. That's a very steep price for a 32-year old quarterback, no matter how incredible he might be. The Panthers probably shouldn't go that far, but if they can talk the Seahawks down to two firsts and change then there should be no real issue, here.

Would Wilson sign a new contract?

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Another potential hiccup for any team that trades for Wilson is his contract. For one thing, it's a pretty heavy and spicy meatball to swallow. Wilson's cap numbers over the next three years are $32 million, $37 million and $40 million according to Over the Cap. Wilson is well worth that money. However, he'll also expect to begin negotiating a new deal soon. Quarterbacks of Wilson's caliber rarely get to the last year of their contracts, so whoever trades for him will be looking at a major long-term extension no later than 18 months down the line. If Wilson isn't amenable to another contract in Carolina it's a no-go.

Would the trade make the Panthers a contender?

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The answer to the previous question may depend a great deal on the answer to this one. If Russell Wilson doesn't think that he can win another championship with the Panthers, it may be impossible to convince him to waive his no-trade clause to begin with. The teams Wilson has OK'd a trade to are the Raiders, Cowboys, Bears and Saints. All of them could be playoff teams in 2021 even if Wilson isn't their starting quarterback. The unfortunate truth is that even if the Panthers add Wilson and change nothing else about their roster, they're still not a Super Bowl or conference heavyweight kind of team. To get there, they'd have to find a true franchise left tackle and quality starters at cornerback, free safety and middle linebacker.

How long will Wilson's luck with injuries last?

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Another unfortunate factor the Panthers have to consider with Wilson is Father Time, who is as yet undefeated despite Tom Brady's impressive persistence. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Wilson's career is he hasn't missed a single game yet. Considering the punishment he's taken (394 sacks and counting) that's a testament to his durability, conditioning and toughness. Luck has also played an undeniable role in that streak, though. Wilson does a fantastic job of avoiding contact when on the run and in the pocket, but it's unthinkable that he'd play an entire 10+ year career in the NFL without a single injury that requires him to miss some time. The longer he plays, the more likely it is to happen.

Would the Seahawks take on Teddy Bridgewater?

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Finally, the Panthers still have another starting quarterback on their roster (or at least a QB with a starter's contract) and have to figure out what to do with him. They were almost able to package Teddy Bridgewater to the Lions but that deal ultimately fell through. NFL Network has reported they've gotten other calls but right now those talks are going nowhere. Making room for Wilson pretty much requires getting Bridgewater off the books and the best way to do that would be via trade. Pete Caroll truly loves to run the ball, so he may be more open to a game-manager type of QB like Teddy than most coaches around the league. If Seattle is willing to even consider taking on Bridgewater, it could give this deal a real chance. [vertical-gallery id=632869]

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