The Seattle Seahawks bounced back in a big way in Week 9, and they'll get to face rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza before a much-needed bye week. They can't waste the opportunity to enter the break with some positive momentum.
The trade deadline is in the record books, and the Seahawks didn't do much, as expected. Just adding Quenton Nelson was more than enough, so watching them stand pat wasn't much of a surprise, though they could've addressed other areas of need.
Now, general manager John Schneider will focus on what's next: Free agency. There's still half a season of football to be played, but with some key guys in the final months of their contracts, let's take a look at where things stand now.
Checking in on some crucial Seattle Seahawks free agents after the trade deadline
Dante Fowler Jr. might not get another shot
Dante Fowler Jr. might've had different plans when he followed DeMarcus Lawrence to Seattle. He's made a positive impact when he's played, but he's barely taken the field over the first nine games of the season, playing just 101 snaps on defense and 26 on special teams.
While he's shown that he can still contribute to a winning team, this might also be the end of the line for the veteran edge rusher. The lack of production will take a big toll on his opportunities to get a new deal at 33.
Drew Lock will get paid in Seattle or elsewhere
Don't look now, but Drew Lock is 2-0 as a starter and 3-0 in the games he's played this season. The sample size is small, and both of those starts have come against the Arizona Cardinals, but he's actually played pretty well whenever he's been asked to take the field.
Premium backup quarterbacks are a scarce commodity in this league, and he may have officially entered that territory. The Seahawks should go the extra mile to keep him in town, though they're unlikely to overpay.
Quenton Nelson must show he's fully healthy
The Seahawks pulled off a shocker when they traded for Quenton Nelson, but he didn't make much of an impact early on. Then, he went under the knife to address a minor injury that should keep him sidelined through the bye week.
Nelson is fully expected to reset the market for guards this offseason, and this might not change the equation. That said, he will still have to prove that he's healthy and worth the type of deal his camp will push to get.
Zach Charbonnet is trending in the right direction
Zach Charbonnet hasn't missed a beat since returning from his season-ending injury. He's been as physical and efficient as usual, even pushing Emanuel Wilson out of the picture after his strong start to the campaign.
Some players need months to recover their elusiveness and mobility after major injuries, but Charbonnett picked up where he left off. Still, with Jadarian Price in the picture, the Seahawks might not spend big bucks to convince him to stay.
Add us as a preferred source on Google