4 bold trades the Seahawks should consider to make the next four years better

Seahawks could trade for Teven Jenkins (as part of a Geno Smith deal)

So why would Seattle want to take J.J. McCarthy, or potentially some other quarterback, when Geno Smith and Sam Howell are already on the roster? The answer could be that neither Smith nor Howell are the long-term answer as QB1 and if Schneider really likes a quarterback this year, he might take him for the sake of the future instead of winning right away. But Seattle also has needs along the interior of the offensive line to address, too.

Teven Jenkins is a good guard for Chicago. The 26-year-old former second-round pick can play either guard spot while protecting his quarterback or opening holes for the run equally well. He had an elite grade, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), in run-blocking in 2022 and did not drop off much in that area in 2023 while his pass-block grade improved. He is also still on his rookie contract for another season.

In a blockbuster trade, the Seahawks could move Geno Smith, Seattle's first-round pick in 2024 and 2025, to Chicago in return for Jenkins and the Bears' number 9 choice in the 2024 draft. This could (should?) be enough for Seattle to take McCarthy and also add a player who is going to improve the Seahawks' offensive line. Seattle could then start Howell in 2024 while McCarthy sits for as long as he needs to sit to learn (Howell is signed through 2025).

Smith would go to Chicago and play for Shane Waldron. Waldron was hired as Chicago's offensive coordinator this offseason after leading the Seahawks offense for the last three seasons so the Bears offense should be better because of the familiarity between Waldron and Smith. Whichever quarterback Chicago takes at number one could then sit behind Smith for a bit.

While Seattle moving Smith does not save the Seahawks any money, the money is already spent and accounted for. The overall trade does not add much to Seattle's payroll as Jenkins' cap hit is only $2,668,860 next season. But trading Smith would save Seattle $25 million in the 2025 offseason.

Read more from 12th Man Rising