Category Archives: Trades

‘No secret’: Hawks want to trade down

“It’s no secret with us, guys. We have four picks, so we’ll be looking to move back.” – John Schneider

It’s draft week – finally!

Free agency slowed to a trickle five weeks ago, so it has been a long, slow wait for the NFL’s Christmas Day. But it is upon us.

This is considered one of the lesser-talented drafts in several years, which John Schneider anticipated when he traded his fourth- and fifth-round picks for Rashid Shaheed last season. The Hawks have four picks (32, 64, 96, 188) as the week begins, and their top positional needs are running back, edge rusher, defensive back and interior offensive line.

The Hawks also need to focus on finding defenders who can help them stop their biggest nemesis, the Rams. That could mean an edge rusher who gets “quick wins,” as Mike Macdonald has said, or maybe another Swiss Army knife coverage guy in the mold of Nick Emmanwori.

Schneider announced Monday that he plans to try to trade down from 32 – obviously to add a pick and get better value for his first selection. Beyond that, though, there is much debate about whether the Seahawks should use their top pick on Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price or a top defensive player.

Rather than putting our breakdown in one giant post, we have broken it out into the following sections:

Quibbling over Price

Simpson the bait at 32?

Veteran trades: A running back?

Who are the Rams beaters?

Simpson the bait at 32?

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

John Schneider has made it clear he wants to move down from 32.

The last time the Seahawks drafted 32nd, back in 2014, they dangled a quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater) as bait to trade down. They could do the same thing this time.

Alabama’s Ty Simpson, the No. 2 QB in the draft, is considered a borderline first-round pick.

An NFL personnel guy told Jonathan Jones of CBS: “In a typical year I think you could get (Simpson) in the second, but this year I think if you want him you’d better be willing to take him in the late first or he could be gone.”

Continue reading Simpson the bait at 32?

Veteran trade market: A running back?

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of our draft preview, broken out into several posts for easier digestion.

In light of the “incredibly shallow” running back class in this draft, Daniel Jeremiah posted, “Teams with some depth at the position should have a trade market for their vets.”

It would not be a stunner if the Hawks got their running back that way. We previously have mentioned Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard.

Continue reading Veteran trade market: A running back?

Edge and tailback are top needs: What about these trades?

A week into the league year, the Seahawks have not changed much – all but four guys are back, which is mostly as expected. Frankly, they do not need much more in order to make a run at a Super Bowl repeat.

As Ernest Jones IV told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport: “Let’s just go play ball.”

The Seahawks have backfilled at running back, safety and cornerback – where they lost Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen. The biggest addition is Emanuel Wilson, but John Schneider said the team is still on the lookout for running backs.

Seattle’s other big need – for 2026 and beyond – is an impact pass rusher. Not just a rotation guy to replace Boye Mafe, but a guy who can help them beat the Rams’ line and get to Matthew Stafford.

The question is: Where are they going to get such a player?

Continue reading Edge and tailback are top needs: What about these trades?

Crosby back on the block: Do Hawks have a shot this time?

In a chaotic twist that turned the NFL on its head the day before the league year begins, Maxx Crosby is back with the Raiders – and thus (probably) back on the trading block.

With Baltimore backing out of the blockbuster trade for the star pass rusher before it became official Wednesday, the question once again becomes: Where will Crosby end up? And most important here: Will the Seahawks be in the hunt?

John Schneider surely will contact (or already has contacted) Ravens GM Eric DeCosta to find out why he nixed the trade. Then Seattle will decide whether to rejoin the bidding.

Let’s take a look at what the cost might be now and which teams might still be in the mix.

Continue reading Crosby back on the block: Do Hawks have a shot this time?

Ravens get Crosby, so Hawks will find new edge elsewhere

NOTE: This deal was called off just before the league year started March 11.

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.

Continue reading Ravens get Crosby, so Hawks will find new edge elsewhere

The expected plan: Shaheed, trades, comp picks, extensions

With more intel and scuttlebutt emerging from the Combine, we think we have a good idea how John Schneider and the Seahawks are going to approach the new league year next week.

All signs point to Kenneth Walker III leaving Seattle along with Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant and Boye Mafe. Some fans are wondering why the team would not want to pay them top dollar when the Seahawks have the sixth-most salary cap space in the NFL: “Why not pay them all and run it back with the same crew?”

It is simple: The Seahawks have to plan beyond 2026, and they have better needs and desires for that cap space.

In a nutshell, here’s how we think it is going to play out:

Continue reading The expected plan: Shaheed, trades, comp picks, extensions

How Schneider built a Super Bowl contender as fans called for his firing

After the 2024 season, a lot of Seahawks fans wanted John Schneider to be fired. They were understandably tired of his failure to put together an even average offensive line throughout his 15 years as general manager, and they were annoyed by a 2024 offseason that seemingly had done little to help the franchise.

It’s surprising how quickly things can change. Amid a 7-2 start that has featured major contributions from half a dozen new players and proven that Sam Darnold is indeed a franchise quarterback, Schneider has been getting a lot of credit.

In fact, in a survey of 42 NFL decision makers by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, 23 voted him as the executive of the year at the midseason point.

Continue reading How Schneider built a Super Bowl contender as fans called for his firing

Shaheed a ‘win now’ acquisition, but ‘now’ lasts beyond 2025

In the wake of Seattle sending two mid-round picks to the Saints for Rashid Shaheed, many are saying the Seahawks are in “win now” mode or that they are “going for it” — as if they weren’t already doing that.

Some also are wondering why the Seahawks would give up fourth- and fifth-round picks for a guy whose contract runs out after this season.

Let’s put some perspective on it.

Continue reading Shaheed a ‘win now’ acquisition, but ‘now’ lasts beyond 2025

Hawks ‘in the market’ for O-line help — what about Saints’ Ruiz?

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.

Continue reading Hawks ‘in the market’ for O-line help — what about Saints’ Ruiz?