With the trade deadline days away, moves are being made and chatter is picking up – so let’s connect some possible dots around the Seahawks.

One of the big ones that emerged today was Saints guard Cesar Ruiz to Seattle – a move that conceivably would help the Hawks at right guard.

The Seahawks are “in the market” for an offensive lineman, per Jordan Schultz. And ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported: “Teams I’ve spoken to are under the impression that guard Cesar Ruiz might be available at the right price.”

Scuttlebutt is that “the right price” would be a third-round pick. That surely is too steep for John Schneider, but what if it came down to a 5 or 6 by next Tuesday’s deadline? Or what if it was a pick swap – maybe the Hawks give up a 3 and get back a 5? Ruiz is signed for two more years, so they would have a chance to get value out of such a deal.

Klint Kubiak and his staff know Ruiz from their time coaching him in 2024 in New Orleans. The former first-round pick apparently played his best ball under that staff. He has had some injury issues during his career and recently returned from a high ankle sprain for the Saints. So there are plenty of things to factor in that potential trade.

Fans have bandied about other guard names for the Hawks all season, with 34-year-old Cleveland guard Joel Bitonio and 35-year-old Tennessee guard Kevin Zeitler topping that scuttlebutt.

Whatever the Hawks do, it sounds like they are looking around.

What else might Schneider and Mike Macdonald consider?

Defensive front

The Seahawks love their chemistry on the defensive front, but would they subtract or add to it? We thought Keion White would have been a great add – the 49ers instead got him this week for a swap of late picks.

Everyone has eyes on Myles Garrett (Cleveland) and Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati), but those would be blockbuster deals that Schneider probably is not interested in making.

The Hawks are pretty solid on the edges, led by the resurgent pair of Uchenna Nwosu and DeMarcus Lawrence. Derick Hall (oblique) is on his way back, which could mean the Hawks make Boye Mafe available.

Moving Mafe could happen if there is a shortage of edge rushers in the trade market and Seattle gets a decent offer. The second tier potentially includes Miami’s Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb, plus the Jets’ Jermaine Johnson and Titans’ Arden Key.

A lot of teams need edge rushers, including the Patriots, Ravens, Panthers, Bears, Vikings, Eagles and Commanders.

As we previously have said, moving Mafe would make sense only if the Hawks could get a 4 or 5 – because that figures to be his comp value in free agency next year (for the 2027 draft).

Cornerback

With Devon Witherspoon returning and the Hawks having a pretty solid group of corners who have all played this year, Riq Woolen still seems the most likely Seahawk to be dealt.

The Hawks would need to get a 4 or 5 for him – because he likely will qualify for a 3 or 4 in the 2027 draft via the comp equation next year. Teams might be hesitant to do that for a pending free agent, unless they intend to re-sign him. But a 6 or 7 or late swap is not worth it for Seattle. Just keep him if that is the best offer.

Among the clubs that need corner help are the Colts, Steelers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bengals and Bears. So maybe someone makes a decent offer.

Running back

It would not be a surprise to see the Hawks trade Kenneth Walker III to a needy team like the Texans, Chargers, Chiefs or Saints. What about Walker for the Saints’ Ruiz straight up?

A trade would leave the Hawks with just Zach Charbonnet and George Holani at halfback, but that is a solid 1-2 punch.

The Hawks seem unlikely to re-sign Walker; so, if they could get something decent (in the 3-5 range) for him ahead of next offseason, they probably should. But if teams are offering just late-round swaps for a guy at the end of his rookie deal, the Hawks should just keep Walker.

Wide receiver

Fans seem to want the Hawks to fortify this position – and some would love to see them trade Cooper Kupp. Well, Kupp is not going anywhere and the Hawks seem unlikely to add to this group.

The top three – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kupp and Tory Horton – are solid. They do not really need more receivers on the field, especially with Robbie Ouzts coming back and likely to figure more prominently alongside the tight ends. The Hawks run 11 personnel (three receivers) just 36% of the time – second lowest in the NFL behind Pittsburgh (30.7%). They use a fullback over 21% of the time, and 12 or 13 personnel 35% of the time.

Linebacker

Forget the Jordyn Brooks fan rumblings. Drake Thomas has really upped his game since replacing Tyrice Knight as the starter opposite Ernest Jones IV. Macdonald likes the chemistry of his defense. And the Hawks probably are not interested in absorbing Brooks’ contract either.