The Seattle Seahawks have traded for left guard Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts. The move was made for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. But what does this really mean for Seattle?
The only issue with adding the future Pro Football Hall of Fame left guard is that it likely means Grey Zabel has to move from the left side to the right side, but for how long? Nelson is only signed through this season, and while he is more than worthy of an extension, do the Seahawks want to do that?
A move to the right side might mean a period of adjustment for Zabel, but then what happens with right guard Anthony Bradford? Does Zabel become a backup? He shouldn't be, as he has proven to be worthy of being chosen in the first round.
Seattle Seahawks trade for Indianapolis Colts' Quenton Nelson should transform the offense
Or maybe there is more afoot here. Bradford is a free agent in the offseason, too. The thinking might be to let Bradford walk, re-sign Nelson, and keep Zabel on the right side for the foreseeable future. That would at least make the trade for the Colts' elite left guard make sense.
No matter what happens, though, Nelson immediately improves the Seahawks' offensive line, just as he would any offensive line. He has played for eight years and has never been missed in the Pro Bowl; he has been named First-Team All-Pro three times and Second-Team All-Pro three times. He is better than any guard Seattle has had since at least Steve Hutchinson.
He is equally fantastic in pass protection or at blocking for the run, but it is the latter where the Seattle Seahawks need the most help. The running game has suffered all season except for arguably Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs. If Nelson starts in Week 8, and that should be the assumption, and Zach Charbonnet returns, Seattle's running attack will be instantly improved.
In fact, the addition of Nelson could mean that Charbonnet and possibly Jadarian Price are very close to returning. The offense could be far better in the second half of the season than the first. If that were to occur, and as Seattle's defense is still elite, then the Seahawks would be right back in the hunt for another Super Bowl ring.
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