The Seahawks probably have known they were out of the Maxx Crosby sweepstakes for several days.

It became official Friday night, with the Raiders shipping the star pass rusher to Baltimore for two first-round picks. Seattle was never going to go that high (and would have had to add a little more anyway) – and now John Schneider and company are officially on to other prospects.

A new one came to light Friday, with word that the Packers might be looking to move Rashan Gary. The Hawks have a connection to Gary, which has many wondering whether that means they might be talking to Green Bay about acquiring him.

Rashan Gary absolutely could be in play for #Seahawks. Chris Patridge, Seattle's outside linebackers coach, coached him in high school.

— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) March 6, 2026

Gary joins a fellow NFC North pass rusher, Minnesota’s Jonathan Greenard, as trade possibilities for Seattle and other teams.

Greenard (6-3, 259) is an edge player who definitely would fit Mike Macdonald’s defense. He tallied 24.5 sacks and 74 pressures in 2023-24, making the Pro Bowl in the latter season. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 10 last season, tried to play through it and finally shut it down for surgery after 12 games.

The Vikings reportedly want a Day 2 pick and a late pick for the 28-year-old Greenard, who is signed for two more years at $19 million each and apparently wants a raise. They reportedly have received a lot of interest in him, so it seems they might get what they are asking.

Would Schneider be willing to give up two picks? Maybe send his second (64^th overall) and a 2027 fifth?

Gary (6-5, 277), who also is 28, has been a flexible and productive player for the Packers. He made the Pro Bowl in 2024, with 7.5 sacks and 26 pressures. He basically had the same stats – 7.5 and 31 — in 2025 as well, although he was pretty quiet in the final 10 games.

A goodbye message appeared on Gary’s Instagram on Friday, signaling he was out in Green Bay. But then it was deleted and word came out that the account had been hacked. That might have been damage control after a poorly timed post as the Packers possibly try to trade him before cutting him.

Gary also is signed for two more years, at $19.5 million and $22.5 million, which is probably too steep for any team to want to take on via trade. If he is cut, the Hawks might try to leverage Partridge’s relationship with him — for the right price.

As we have written before, the Hawks really need to address their front five (D-line and edges) this offseason.

Boye Mafe is headed out, which immediately diminishes depth. But then in 2027, these guys are all up: Leonard Williams, Derick Hall, Uchenna Nwosu. DeMarcus Lawrence likely will retire – if he does not this year. And Jarran Reed probably will be let go as well.

The only front-five guys assured of being here in 2027 are Byron Murphy II and Rylie Mills. Thus the need to settle some roster questions this year.

Maybe the biggest question among the holdovers is whether Williams and the team will decide they want to do another couple years together. It is entirely possible that the 11-year vet could be looking at going out on top in 2026, retiring after hopefully winning back-to-back Super Bowls.

The Hawks seem likely to try to extend Hall, who is a more impactful rusher than Mafe and thus worth keeping if they can strike a deal.

Some think the Hawks might dump Nwosu this year because of his $11 million salary. But the team needs more pass rushers, not fewer. We had suggested Nwosu as part of a Crosby package, and he still could be part of a trade later — if the Hawks were upgrading their pass rush in some way. Otherwise, the Hawks need to keep Nwosu.

If they do keep him and he plays well again at age 29, perhaps they re-sign him in 2027.

As for Lawrence, word is he already might be contemplating retiring. He turns 34 in April. But we think he is going to run it back for another title chance and then retire for sure in 2027.

Reed, 33, seems likely to be in his final season with Seattle. He is signed through 2027, but the Hawks might not want to pay a 35-year-old rotational defensive lineman $8 million.

Let’s assume three of these guys are leaving (retirement, free agency or release) in 2027. The Hawks cannot replace all of them in the draft.

That’s why it seems important for them to get Greenard or Gary. Or both.

Among free agents, the Hawks seem unlikely to go after Trey Hendrickson or Jaelan Phillips, the biggest-money edge rushers. And middling guys like Colts edge Kwity Paye, Bengals edge Joseph Ossai and Falcons edge Arnold Ebiketie probably will be way overpaid on the market.  

Bradley Chubb was cut by Miami and has not been signed yet, so the Hawks could look at the 30-year-old, who had 8.5 sacks last year. He also would not impact potential comp picks.

The ideal scenario would be adding Greenard and extending Williams and Hall. The 2027 front five then would start with Murphy, Williams, Greenard, Hall and Mills. If the draft does not produce another edge, the Hawks could re-sign Nwosu.

However they do it, the Hawks have work to do this offseason on that front five.

Let’s see whether Greenard or Gary is the first step.