Analysis: Wilson is 'frustrated' with taking so many hits. Do the Seattle Seahawks have a problem?

We can’t just shrug off the Russell Wilson rumors anymore, folks. Ignore it, like in past years (Remember that crazy Wilson to the Giants theory?). Not give it any measure of credence. Label it as “usual” offseason chatter.

In 2021, it deserves attention; more so than ever before. It feels different.

Why? The Seattle Seahawks quarterback, himself, is playing a role in fueling them.

Wilson was on a conference call with reporters Tuesday, scheduled to just talk about winning the 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. But on Super Bowl Sunday, the NFL Network said “a couple” teams had asked the Seahawks about Wilson’s availability (though those inquiries were reportedly shut down). Then on Monday night, national NFL reporter Jason La Confora said that he’s grown “really frustrated” with his pass protection over the years in Seattle. And earlier Tuesday, Wilson even hopped on The Dan Patrick Show, saying in part when asked if he felt like he was being made available in trades, “I’m not sure if I’m available or not, that’s a Seahawks’ question.”

Those are not words that should be coming from a Super Bowl-winning, franchise quarterback in his prime who signed a $140 million contract less than two years ago.

So there were questions about Wilson’s feeling toward the Seahawks when he was set to speak about winning the league’s most prestigious humanitarian honor. And despite the PR person’s efforts to keep the questions about the Walter Payton Man of the Year award on the video call, Wilson was still asked about how he feels in Seattle right now. And he made no effort to shut them down.

On the 20-minute call, Wilson stressed that he’s “frustrated” with how much he’s been hit in his career. He’s been sacked 394 times through nine years, which is more than any other quarterback through nine years since the 1970 NFL merger.

"I'm frustrated with getting hit too much,” Wilson said when asked if he’s frustrated with the Seahawks. “I'm frustrated with that part of it, you know?

“The reality is that I've definitely been hit and sacked almost 400 times. We've got to get better. I've got to find ways to get better too, so just continuing to try and find that.”

He also said this on The Dan Patrick Show of the pass protection: “I think that’s a big thing we have to fix. That’s got to be fixed and has to be at the end of the day. My goal is to play 10-15 more years, so you think about that and longevity.”

Never before has Wilson so publicly pointed the finger at a specific position group, challenging coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider in the process. In the past, any pointed gripes Wilson may have had with the team did not come off so strongly to the media, who he has usually stuck to his eternal-optimist persona with.

Wilson’s comments Tuesday are the latest indication yet that there could be growing tension between him and the only NFL franchise he’s ever known; that he could think his issues aren’t being addressed adequately internally, so he feels the need to apply pressure on the franchise through the media and public perception.

There’s an argument to be made that Wilson is at fault for some of his many sacks and quarterback hits absorbed. There are times where his extreme confidence in his ability to extend plays has backfired. But the Seahawks have done a poor job propping up the offensive line in Wilson’s nine-plus years, too, largely swinging out on O-line draft picks and prioritizing low-budget offensive-linemen signings in free agency.

Wilson is now drawing the line in the sand. He wants the team to invest heavily upfront.

The franchise quarterback, Wilson is beginning to exercise the kind of power we first saw him get a feel for last offseason, when he challenged Seahawks’ decision makers to bring “superstars” to the team. A superstar eventually came in star safety Jamal Adams, who Seattle gave up two future first-round picks for in a blockbuster deal.

Wilson is now pushing for more say on moves the team makes. He told the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday that he hasn’t been involved in personnel decisions much and would like to be involved more. That falls in line with what he told reporters at his end-of-season press conference following Brian Schottenheimer’s firing, saying it’s “critical” he be involved in the process of finding the new offensive coordinator, with him entering Year 10.

Wilson on Tuesday praised Schottenheimer’s replacement, first-time NFL play caller Shane Waldron, whose hire he played a role in.

“I think if you ask guys like Drew Brees, Peyton Manning. Even Tom (Brady). I think that you saw this year how much he was involved in the (roster) process,” Wilson told reporters. “I think that is something that is important to me in making sure I try to do everything I can. Because I think that at the end of the day, I have to be out there. I have to make the calls. I have to make the plays. I have to make the throws.

“I think that ultimately, for me personally, I want to be involved because at the end of the day, it’s your legacy,” Wilson said on The Dan Patrick Show. “It’s the team’s legacy. It’s the guys you get to go to the huddle with. At the end of the day, those guys, you have to trust.”

Does this apparent butting of heads mean Wilson wants to be traded? Not necessarily. Wilson wants to win, and he could just be done keeping quiet as the Seahawks rack up early playoff exits (Seattle hasn’t advanced past the divisional round since Super Bowl 49).

Wilson even told reporters he has “trust” in the Seahawks to build a championship-caliber roster.

"If you ask me about the trust factor of it all, I've always put my trust into the Seahawks and trying to do whatever it takes to win,” Wilson said. “Hopefully, that will continue. I think that's a key part of it. So I think part of it is how we go about the protection part of it and figuring out those little things like that, those are important things."

A trade —  which Wilson would have control over by the way, as he’d have to waive the no-trade clause in his contract — also doesn’t make much sense from a salary cap standpoint, with Wilson under contract through 2023. If the Seahawks were to trade him before June 1, it would trigger an enormous $39 million dead-money charge for 2021. Wilson's cap hits over the next three seasons, according to OvertheCap.com: $32 million, $37 million and $39 million.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be taking the noise around Wilson’s discontent seriously.

Former NFL wide receiver Brandon Marshall, his former teammate, hopped into the fray later Tuesday, saying Wilson is “beyond frustrated” with the Seahawks and believes he’s trying —  and struggling —  to move on from the franchise in a “classy way.”

Marshall on FSI actually inaccurately stated that Seattle has only drafted one offensive lineman since Wilson got there —  since 2013, the Seahawks have drafted 14 —  but he made intriguing comments about the atmosphere in Seattle, referencing his time there.

Marshall said he believes that his ex-quarterback wants to stay in Seattle, but “(Wilson) knows Pete Carroll is going to continue to give him the runaround.” The former pro-bowl wideout said he noticed “philosophical” differences between what Carroll and Wilson wanted to do offensively (that sounds familiar).

“I don’t think they believe in Russ. I know they don’t believe in Russ  because I was there,” Marshall, who played seven games with the Seahawks in 2018 said in part. “He needs to tell Pete Carroll exactly what he needs and what he wants. And if the two can’t come to an agreement, then it’s time for Russ to move on.”

Wilson has not demanded a trade, to be clear, which would add even more intrigue to what’s shaping to be a historic carousel for NFL quarterbacks this offseason. But the rumors will continue to churn, as he confirmed reports of his unhappiness.

The Seahawks need to fix that.