The calendar is about to flip to February, which will mark the first full month of the first full offseason for Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, but many Hawks fans currently have their attention elsewhere.
Specifically, with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll taking on the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders, many Seattle fans have suddenly gained a second favorite team. And, adding to the potential for many Hawks fans to enjoy their newfound Raiders fanhood, quarterback Russell Wilson is set to hit free agency in less than six weeks, creating the potential for a reunion between Carroll and Wilson.
However, before rumors and reports get heavy in the weeks leading up to the start of free agency in March, ProFootballTalk Wednesday reported that it may be prudent to pump the brakes on expectations of a reunion. Specifically, while Pete had final say on the roster during his time in Seattle, the reality is that he will not enjoy that same level of power in Las Vegas, and per Mike Florio:
Here’s the other reason: It’s not Carroll’s call. The decision will be at least heavily influenced — if not ultimately made — by minority owner/majority voice Tom Brady. He’ll surely have an opinion as to whether Wilson can be the answer for the Raiders. And Brady is otherwise occupied with his Fox job until after the Super Bowl.
With that idea in mind, it would seem to make sense that new Raiders General Manager John Spytek was the Director of Player Personnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Tom Brady signed with the Bucs as a free agent before earning a promotion to Vice President of Player Personnel for Brady’s last two seasons in Tampa.
That brings the discussion around to what Pete had to say on the subject when queried on the matter while guesting on the podcast of Amy Trask and Suzy Shuster, and his answer is, as always, in Petespeak:
It’s so early, and we’re just in the midst of trying to find the puzzle pieces. We’re not even putting them together yet, so I can’t even say. Free agency hasn’t come yet. That’s the first competitive opportunity that will occur. Then, the draft is coming. We’ll have that opportunity. I can’t tell you right now. I could guess, but it would just be a guess.
In short, Wilson remains an option, but there will also be a lot of other options available to Las Vegas, and it’s won’t be entirely up to Pete. Which means it should be a fun offseason for a whole host of reasons.
