The perfect trade target for the Seahawks before 2023 season begins

The Seattle Seahawks still need a proven player in the middle of the defensive line. Could a potential trade involving a player from the Colts work for Seattle?

Since entering the league in 2017, the Colts' Grover Stewart has long been among the more underrated nose tackles in the NFL. After being drafted 144th overall in 2017, Stewart would take a couple of years to acclimate to the next-level speed of the NFL.

For the first two years of his career, Stewart would be used primarily as a rotational piece. Tallying up 40 tackles, with 5 quarterback hits, and 3 tackles for loss combined over his first two seasons. It wasn't until 2019 that he would get his first taste of being a full-time starter.

Stewart would make the most out of his opportunity that year, starting 13 games and racking up 3 sacks, 30 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 5 quarterback hits. His play would continue to pick up after the Colts acquired former all-pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in 2020. Buckner would prove to be an ideal fit next to Stewart, replacing the lack of pass-rush production in Stewart's game.

Seattle Seahawks should make a trade to add Grover Stewart

Coming off of his most productive season in 2022, Stewart's 3-year, $30,000,000 extension is set to expire at the end of the 2023 season. Although he seems to be playing at a high level, with Stewart being 30 years old, there's good reason to assume that his 2022 season may be the best it gets. In addition, Indianapolis has two big contracts set to expire in 2023 with wide receiver Michael Pittman and running back Jonathan Taylor.

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With the addition of rookie QB Anthony Richardson, they're likely not going to let weapons like Taylor and Pittman walk in and aim to provide Richardson with as much help as possible. So if the Colts have this thought at all they should look to trade the 6-year vet rather than lose him in free agency next year for nothing.

The perfect trade partner for Indy could be the Seahawks. Seattle allowed 152 rushing yards a game in 2022, good for third-worst in the league. This problem alone would cost them crucial games against teams they were favored against. With losses to teams like Atlanta, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and even the Panthers after they traded star running back Christian McCaffrey. Whether it was Taysom Hill's 112-yard, 3-touchdown rushing game in Week 5, or Josh Jacobs' monster 229-yard performance in Week 12 (capped off by an 86-yard run to walk it off in overtime), the problem was apparent all year long. Seattle knew what teams wanted to do offensively - and couldn't stop it.

Luckily for Seattle, Stewart is one of the premier run defenders in the league. At a massive 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, he's the exact type of nose tackle Pete Carroll loves to utilize. Dating back to Carroll's early days with the Seahawks, he's always wanted massive nose tackles with strong anchors. Nose tackles who can eat up space to free linebackers up to make plays in the box, usually around 315 lbs or more. Players like former Seahawk nose tackles, Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane.

The price general manager John Schneider would have to pay shouldn't be too expensive either. The trade is likely to be a mid-round pick or two. Due to Stewart's age, expiring contract, and the general positional value around the league for nose tackles, it would be shocking to see him get moved for anything higher than a 3rd-round pick.

One of the only issues with a hypothetical move for Stewart would be the contract extension Seattle would have to give him. With players like Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, Jordyn Brooks, and Bobby Wagner also due for an extension at the end of 2023, Seattle would have to manipulate the cap in a creative way to be able to make room for Stewart.

Despite the cap issues it may cause, the move would be one that could put Seattle in Super Bowl-contending territory. Not to mention, with the signing of DT Dre'mont Jones, he's a perfect complement to what Jones also lacks. Jones is a pass-rushing force on the inside, and Stewart is a massive, physical player, with power and size. With the ACL tear of veteran NT Bryan Mone and the uncertainty of 4th-round pick Cameron Young, a trade for Stewart could give Seattle the run-stuffing ability and consistency they've longed for since the Legion of Boom days.