3 players Seattle Seahawks should trade for before Week 1

Seahawks should trade for Texans defensive end Jerry Hughes

Why not go with another defensive end here? Seattle did pick up Dre'Mont Jones and Jarran Reed to remake their defensive line this offseason but they still lack some depth. There are a bunch of questions. Can Mario Edwards, Jr. be good against the run? Can rookie Mike Morris make an immediate impact? Seattle has so far lost more proven players on the D-line in 2022 than it has acquired.

Jerry Hughes might be ancient by NFL levels. He will be 35 years old when the 2023 begins. But he also had a bit of a resurgence in 2022 when he had 9 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Sure, he played for the awful Houston Texans and somebody had to get sacks and tackles, but Hughes still proved he can play. Plus, at this stage of his career, he can play either the left side or right side so he could sub for Reed or Jones.

According to Pro Football Focus (you must subscribe and it would be free if up to me), Hughes had elite pass rush grades in 2020 and 2021 and wasn't far off in 2022. He also had 58 total pressures last year so there is no question if he were to rotate in and the Seahawks wanted to have a defensive line that featured Reed, Jones, and Hughes on passing downs, that would be a formidable pass rush group.

Hughes has a cap hit of $6.25 million in 2023 so Seattle could fit him under their cap somehow with no issues. Plus, the Seahawks probably wouldn't have to give up tons to acquire the aging, but still-productive, Hughes. Maybe Seattle could offer Houston a fourth-round pick and that would be enough.