49ers rumors: NFC West altered by possible Russell Wilson trade?

The 49ers could see a drastic power shift in the NFC West if the Seahawks end up trading their star quarterback, Russell Wilson, this offseason.

Forget the San Francisco 49ers potentially being in the running for disgruntled Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. While that would-be acquisition would tip the balance of power within the NFC West to the Niners, another rumored development could alter it without San Francisco having to do anything.

According to a Thursday report from The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar, Mike Sando and Jayson Jenks (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area), Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has pushed a trade request, which could happen sooner than later.

The possible destinations reportedly include the Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and NY Jets.

Wilson has apparently grown frustrated with the Seahawks’ efforts to provide protection for him up front along their offensive line. Historically over Wilson’s pro career, Seattle has regularly averaged as having spent towards the bottom in O-line players, and it appears as if that has directly led to Wilson’s request.

Without getting into too much detail, roster breakdown or whatever, it’s pretty safe to say Wilson is the Seahawks and has been the primary reason behind Seattle’s repeated run of success, particularly in the days since the vaunted “Legion of Boom” days of the early and mid 2010s. Since Wilson’s career began in 2012, the Seahawks have made the playoffs in each year but once, 2017, and Wilson has helped Seattle get into two Super Bowls, winning one of them.

And now he apparently wants out.

It’s still unclear whether or not this is merely a power push. Wilson could be simply trying to force Seattle’s hand, trying to convince the Seahawks front office and coaching staff to bulk up the offensive line by saying “or else.”

Or, like Watson, Wilson could have reached his breaking point.

49ers, Seahawks to shift in NFC West balance of power?

There are still plenty of X-factors and to-be-determined outcomes at play here.

Nevertheless, it’s pretty safe to assume the 49ers would be in much better shape if Wilson was somehow jettisoned somewhere else outside the NFC West.

Just for reference, during Wilson’s NFL career, the Niners have made the playoffs just three times. And when going up against San Francisco, Wilson owns a 14-4 regular-season record against the 49ers over his career.

Needless to say, somehow getting Wilson out of the NFC West would make things drastically easier for the Niners to overcome what has been their biggest adversary over the last decade-plus.

Of course, the LA Rams are also looking to climb within the divisional power rankings after making a blockbuster move for former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford this offseason. The Rams, too, have to be salivating at the idea of Wilson potentially playing somewhere else in 2021.

If he does after a potential trade goes through, one might think teams like the 49ers and Rams would up their attempts to maintain a Super Bowl window right now.

And that could have some dramatic alterings for both teams’ offseason plans.