Latest Russell Wilson rumor proves Washington should be all in

The Washington Football Team’s season didn’t end the way fans would’ve hoped, but there’s reason to be excited about what lies ahead.

The upcoming rebrand is a treat in and of itself, but the success, or lack there of, of this offseason will hinge on the quarterback search. Find the right guy and suddenly Washington is a legit playoff team in 2022. It’s that simple.

Who that guy will be, though, is the million-dollar question.

Will Washington choose to draft and develop a rookie and maybe add a placeholder until said prospect is ready to start? Or will the franchise push all its chips to the middle of table and trade for an established veteran?

While there’s no way to know who will become available, the biggest names being floated around are Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson and Derek Carr, who’s yet to commit to the Raiders long term.

While all four gunslingers- maybe not Watson due to his off-field issues — would look great in the Burgundy and Gold, the latest rumors surrounding Wilson proves Washington should be all-in on the Seahawks superstar.

Per insider Ian Rapoport, Wilson wants to “explore his options” this offseason.

The Washington Football Team must pursue Russell Wilson.

Since most (not all) fans seem content with giving up assets for Carr, shouldn’t that sentiment hold true for Wilson? With all due respect to the Raiders QB, his resume pales in comparison to that of the lifetime Seahawk.

Wilson’s hometown of Richmond, Virginian is just a two-hour drive from Landover. He’s been a top-five player at the position for the better part of a decade and could have up to six or seven years of his prime remaining given how much he invests into his diet and offseason training program.

The eight-time Pro Bowler is coming off a down year, but that’s only because he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured middle-finger tendon in his throwing hand and returned four weeks (!) after the operation.

Not surprising he struggled with accuracy. And speaking of that “down year,” it was still better than anything Washington has had at the position in recent years. Despite the injury, Wilson completed 64,8% of his passes for 3,113 yards (7.8 YPA) and 25 touchdowns to just six interceptions.

So, what would Washington have to offer Wilson?

While their receiving corps doesn’t compare to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, we’d argue Terry McLaurin is better than both of them.

If Curtis Samuel stays healthy and Dyami Brown offers more consistency as a sophomore — with the possibility of adding another wideout in the draft — Wilson would have a surplus of weapons. Not to mention, Logan Thomas is as sure-handed as they come at the tight end position and Wilson has a history with JD McKissic, who previously played in Seattle from 2016 to 2018.

Another reason Wilson should be open to a trade to Washington? He’d actually have a competent offensive line. For reasons we’ll never understand, Seattle never emphasized gifting Russ with a stable OL. In Washington, he’d be joining the sixth-best offensive line in the league, per Pro Football Focus.

Ownership will likely present a stumbling block as far as convincing Wilson, but Dan Snyder has taken a backseat in regard to football operations since the league’s investigation into the franchise’s toxic culture wrapped up.

We’re not saying Washington would top Wilson’s list of preferred destinations, but the fact he’s seemingly ready to explore his options proves Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew should go all-out in pursuit of him this offseason.

It’s time to swing big. No more settling.