ESPN analyst has harsh criticism for Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson has once again found himself at the center of trade rumors heading into the offseason, but Ryan Clark has a warning for interested teams — the Seattle Seahawks star may not be the player he thinks he is.

Wilson still has not asked the Seahawks for a trade, but recent reports have indicated that he wants to explore his options. ESPN analyst Ryan Clark, a former Pittsburgh Steelers safety, had some surprising criticism for Wilson on Monday. He said the 33-year-old quarterback is not the type of player who can carry a team to a championship.

"Russell Wilson is not an all-time great QB. He's never going to be in those conversations. We have to stop putting him in that world that any team that has Russell Wilson can win a Super Bowl."

—@Realrclark25 😳 pic.twitter.com/ENeRNqbQDn

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 7, 2022

“We have to stop including Russell Wilson in these talks that, ‘If Russell Wilson goes here, this team will win a Super Bowl.’ This isn’t basketball and, frankly, Russell Wilson actually isn’t that great,” Clark said. “He isn’t that much of a factor that changes who football teams are.”

Wilson won a Super Bowl when the Seahawks had one of the best defenses in NFL history. The 2021 season was his first ever losing season, but Seattle has fallen short of expectations most years. Clark has a point that Wilson needs a lot of help, but the same can be said for most quarterbacks.

The flip side of the argument is that the Seahawks don’t “let Russ cook” enough. That’s likely one of the reasons Wilson was frustrated with the team last offseason. Pete Carroll also does not seem to be a fan of the “let Russ cook” movement.

Clark’s criticism sort of stated the obvious. Wilson has a full no-trade clause, and he would likely only waive it for a team with a good roster that is a QB away from being a legitimate contender. His agent even provided a list of possible teams last year.

Wilson is one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, but no one thinks he would turn the New York Jets into an instant Super Bowl contender.

Photo: Oct 4, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) looks on after defeating the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports