The Seattle Seahawks end an era in just one night and turn the franchise inside out. What comes as a shock to fans is inevitable from the team’s point of view.

Munich/Seattle – The Seattle Seahawks, as fans and experts knew them in recent years, are history as of Tuesday night.

With Bobby Wagner and superstar quarterback Russell Wilson, the last two players of the Super Bowl-winning team of 2013 have left the franchise, who had been under contract with the Hawks continuously since then – the end of an era!

There are many reasons for this.

The Seahawks are getting the capital they need to rebuild the franchise through the Wilson trade and the firing of Wagner.

The players, especially Russell Wilson, get the opportunity to play for another Super Bowl ring.

Seattle Seahawks: Wilson’s departure lasted two years

Rumours about the 33-year-old had already persisted over the past two years. For a long time, the Chicago Bears were considered the favourite, then Wilson was said to be leaning towards the Las Vegas Raiders. But he apparently lost faith that he could fulfil his dream of a second title in Seattle.

The Seahawks, on the other hand, saved a whopping eleven million US dollars in cap space through the trade, although they also took a 26 million dead cap at the same time. Money that is urgently needed for reinforcements across the board.

Especially the passing defence is a weak point of coach Pete Carroll’s team. Last season, Seattle allowed a whopping 4,513 yards against them – 31st in the entire NFL. The once glorious “Legion of Boom” was already a mere entry in the history books.

ESPN columnist Bill Barnwell points out, “They won a Super Bowl with a dominant defence, a tough running game and a quarterback who threw the ball 25 times a game. But they evolved into a team with one of the most expensive quarterbacks, unable to stop even the opposing passing game. “

Seattle Seahawks: Will Drew Lock be the Wilson successor?

The Seahakws get two first-round picks, two second-round picks and one for the fifth round for their franchise quarterback. Additionally, Broncos backup Drew Lock is moving to Seattle along with tight end Noah Fant and defensive end Shelby Harris. But whether the 25-year-old Lock will really take over the Wilson legacy is questionable.

If Carroll wants to return to the old virtues and rely on a strong defence and a lot of running, the ex-Bronco could be a suitable alternative as a transitional quarterback.

However, the Seahawks now have the first-round pick back they gave up in the trade of Jamal Adams. It doesn’t seem unrealistic for them to pick up their future quarterback at the ninth spot in the draft. Additionally, there are plenty of experienced alternatives on the open market in Teddy Bridgewater, Cam Newton or Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Bobby Wagner’s end saves big money

The main reason for the release of Bobby Wagner, the player with the most tackles in franchise history, is money. The Seahawks get themselves $16.6 million more cap space by firing the linebacker.

The signing of Shelby Harris provides experienced short-term reinforcement in the pass rush, though not positionally. The 31-year-old was a fixture as a starter with the Denver Broncos, finishing the 2021 season with 48 tackles and six sacks. He will be a fixture in Seattle immediately.

The Seahawks have now come full circle. Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner came together in the 2012 draft – on the same day. Now they have left their franchises on the same day, paving the way for a new era.