12th Man Rising
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5 players Seahawks could target before the trade deadline

By Geoff Shull

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 29: Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles follows the action against the New York Giants in the rain in the first half at MetLife Stadium on December 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 29: Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles follows the action against the New York Giants in the rain in the first half at MetLife Stadium on December 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Trade target: Ryan Kerrigan, EDGE

This one was recently talked about. However, I felt it needed to be brought up again. I wrote the article thinking people would see a huge opportunity a little while back. Instead, fans were confused as to why we would trade for a no-name player on the wrong side of 30.

So here we are again; Ryan Kerrigan. Kerrigan has consistently been one of the best pass rushers in the NFL over the 2010s. He has registered at least 7.5 sacks in all but one season. His average sack count per year is 9.2. He also averages 11.6 tackles for a loss per season.

He is seriously one of the most technically sound players in the NFL. He isn’t the most athletically gifted. However, he uses his sky-high football IQ and technical soundness to simply make plays. The KJ Wright of the defensive line.

The Washington Football Team is at a crossroads. They have spent heavily over the last several years to bring youth into the team. With Kerrigan in his age-32 season, he now taking a back seat to players like Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Honestly, the team is simply overflowing with defensive end talent. It’s time for the team to go for a full youth movement and move on.

This should be enough to convince the Washington Football Team to give him up in a trade. He has been a staple of the team forever, but the writing is on the wall. They have turned a new leaf. This would also bring another savvy veteran presence to the Seahawks defensive line.

Kerrigan is averaging a 10.3% hurry rate and an 11.8% pressure rate on the season. His average over the last 5 seasons is 14.3%. Give Kerrigan more opportunities and I guarantee you, he will shine. He is simply that good.

I will leave you with this. The Seahawks are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. They will be aggressive in bringing in the best talent they possibly can to accomplish just that. Don’t be surprised if they make a deal or two.

This is the list of the 5 trade targets in order of how likely I think it is to actually occur:

  1. Ryan Kerrigan
  2. Zach Ertz (yeah, I know. Russell wants firepower and has proven he can shoulder the team with his talents. Let’s give him more firepower. Ertz would be an immediate upgrade at the tight end position.)
  3. Takkarist McKinley
  4. Fletcher Cox
  5. J.J. Watt

Kerrigan is first because of fit, need, and availability. Ertz is second because of what I explained above and the salary cap hell the Eagles are in. McKinley is third because of the unknowns around the new coach and GM, he is likely going to be on the trade block though. Cox is fourth because of his salary cap hit and difficulty for Seattle absorbing it.

Next. Russell Wilson needs this bye week. dark

Watt is last because of his strong ties to the organization and being a fan favorite. If he was traded for anything less than a king’s ransom after the hell the fan base endured with Bill O’Brien, there would be public outrage. The team needs to tread lightly there, even if it helped them in the long run.

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