The NFL draft is only a bit over a month away but it will feel like minutes. There are certain things that will happen before the start of the draft (April 27th) that will influence what the Seahawks choose to do probably. If Geno Smith is re-signed, why draft a quarterback, for instance?
Linebacker is a concern for the Seahawks, and that would be true even if they do manage to re-sign Bobby Wagner. Wagner is still a very good linebacker but he also isn’t young and the draft is all about the future. Seattle should probably take a linebacker fairly high in the 2023 draft, with or without the re-signing of Wagner.
But while Seattle stood pat at pick number 9 overall in the 2022 NFL draft and took left tackle Charles Cross, for the most part, general manager John Schneider has made a habit of trading down in drafts. 2023 could certainly be that kind of draft. Seattle has positional needs, certainly, but they also likely need potentially high-end players at those positions instead of one player fixing whatever the problem is.
Seahawks trading back from pick 5 overall might not be the worst thing ever
Adding a player like Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson or Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson would be possibly very good, Seattle would still be able to get a good defensive lineman or pass rusher at pick 9 or 13 most likely. Trading back doesn’t mean not getting quality. It means the possibility of adding an extra player of high quality or maybe even a solid veteran from the team that trades with Seattle.
What follows are potential trade options for Seattle to trade back from pick 5 overall and still get a high draft pick and add depth too. And by depth, I don’t just mean a player who will be a backup. I mean a player who can be a solid piece in a rotation with the pass rush or at receiver.
Trade offer No. 1: Seahawks add WR3 and another second-round choice
The most obvious reason the Jets would want to pull off this trade is that their quarterback situation is a complete mess. It is clear that 2021 first-round draft pick Zach Wilson doesn’t have the stuff to be a QB1 in the NFL. Not only is he not accurate but he also seems to have no comprehension that he is a big reason his team loses. Wilson even implied after a November 2022 loss to the Patriots that maybe his teammates were to blame.
New York’s defense is good enough to help the team win at a high level. And the defense isn’t going to get worse, either. The Jets have tons of good young pieces, like cornerback Sauce Gardner, that are going to make New York a pain to play against for years. They just need a quarterback to help them win and New York moving up to pick 5 and grabbing Will Levis or Anthony Richardson would probably improve their situation.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks could fall back to 13 and still grab a player like edge rusher Nolan Smith from Georgia or edge rusher Lukas Van Ness from Iowa. Seattle likely could even choose defensive tackle Calijah Kancey of Pittsburgh. My point is that Seattle would still have a lot of options at 13.
Plus, the Seahawks would add another decently high second-round choice and that would give them five picks in the first 53 of the draft. Moore already wants out of New York and he could definitely into the best WR3 that DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett have gotten to play with.
Trade offer No. 2: Seahawks add another second-round choice
There are few reasons for a team to trade up in the draft, but that doesn’t mean those reasons are not important. And the most important reason a team trades up is to grab a quarterback. The Raiders, after releasing long-term starter Derek Carr this offseason, need a quarterback. Of course, any franchise that chooses Josh McDaniels to be their head coach probably doesn’t have any clue what they are doing, but I digress.
If the Seahawks do this potential trade, Seattle would only fall from pick 5 to 7 so still very much in the range of grabbing a high-end and impactful defensive lineman or edge rusher. Plus, Seattle should be able to pick up the Raiders’ second- or third-round choice and both are those picks are high in their respective rounds. Ideally, Seattle wouldn’t do the trade unless they get Las Vegas’s second-round pick.
Unlike other trades, the Raiders would only move up two choices so their need to give up a bunch for that might not be as aggressive as other teams. But two picks could also be the difference between Will Levis or Anthony Richardson or not taking a quarterback at all. Do the Raiders really think they can win with Jeremy Stidham as QB1? I’d hope not but again, this is a franchise that chose McDaniels to be their head coach.
Trade offer No. 3: Seahawks add another first-rounder in 2024
The trade between these two teams might be the most realistic of these three trades or any trades the Seahawks might be offered. The Panthers desperately need a quarterback and if they wait until pick number 9 to take one, the top four QBs in the 2023 NFL draft could be gone. The one sure way to avoid that situation is to trade up. Seattle most likely would be fine with trading down four spots, especially if it means adding another first-round selection in 2024 as well.
Seattle won’t need a quarterback. Geno Smith has reportedly finalized an extension to stay with the team for three more years. This means the team can focus on other needs.
That means Seattle will probably try to build the team overall and not focus on behind center when it comes to the draft. And this is the right way to build the team. Smith is a good quarterback but probably not one that can elevate the team to championship-caliber on his own. There aren’t a lot of Patrick Mahomes’ around.
The Seahawks are probably still a couple of offseasons away from building a real contender. Adding more high picks in 2024 would be wise. This potential trade with the Panthers would help do that.