Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson confirms Seattle Seahawks tried to trade him before this year, says his skills not diminished

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With his return to Seattle in his first regular-season game with the Denver Broncos just days away, quarterback Russell Wilson confirmed Thursday the Seahawks had actually tried to trade him before — in 2018 — and said he doesn't believe his skills have diminished as he heads into his 11th season.

The Broncos' blockbuster trade to acquire Wilson in March — for five draft picks, including two first-round picks and two second-round picks, as well as three players — was one of the biggest league-altering moves of the offseason.

But Wilson confirmed Thursday, just before he took the practice field, that it wasn't the first time the Seahawks had tried to trade him in his time with the team that included nine Pro Bowl selections, two Super Bowl starts and one Super Bowl win. In an ESPN story published earlier this week on the Wilson-Seahawks football divorce, Seattle's attempt to trade Wilson before the 2018 draft was detailed.

«Definitely they tried to, a couple of times, tried to see what was out there,'' Wilson said. „It's part of the business, being a professional and everything else… I believe in my talents, of who I am, I feel I'm one of the best in the world.''

Wilson also challenged criticisms, some anonymous, that his skills have diminished. The 33-year-old did not play a snap in the Broncos' three preseason games so Monday night in Lumen Field will be the first time anyone has seen Wilson operate Denver's offense in a game.

“I don't worry about all that stuff, people can have opinions and thoughts and ideas, everyone has their own right to think what they want to think,'' Wilson said. „I know how the whole thing went, how it transpired, just the whole situation.

“I think every year you have to