No matter what unfolded for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, the near future was likely going to remain unchanged. That is why the November 10 trade deadline should be a boring one for 12s.
Seattle is 4-4 with a litany of injuries, some of which could last well past the game against the Arizona Cardinals. Quarterback Sam Darnold is probably out until Week 12, which would mean he would miss Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, and then the team has a bye week.
This season hasn't been a fun one, and shouldn't have been, as the team lost a lot of talent in free agency. Do the Seahawks have much to gain at the trade deadline? No, and that is why general manager John Schneider is left with a seemingly obvious reality: Sit the deadline out and do nothing more.
Seattle Seahawks should do nothing at the trade deadline
Seattle has already traded for left guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts. That move was immediately met with drama as Nelson played one game, aggravated a knee issue he had with Indy, and then needed a minor procedure to repair the problem. He could miss a few games.
Instead of trading for other players who are unlikely to turn around a season that is bordering on being lost, the team should focus on trying to sign Nelson to an extension. His new injury aside, he stays healthy and is among the best players at his position of his generation.
The team gave up a third-round pick and a fifth-round choice to get him, and he needs to stick around for a while to make the move worth it. That probably means extending him for three years at as much as $25 million a season, with the hope that he stays healthy and efficient into his early 30s.
Instead of trading more draft capital for a player who might help the team a bit but not enough to correct a 4-4 start, Schneider should hold on to those picks and try to keep building a young roster, one that will be good for many years to come. Adding quality veterans now would only give the team a chance at the playoffs this season, while so many injuries are taking that chance away.
In this case, being boring is a good thing for the Seattle Seahawks. Fans might hope a trade develops for an edge rusher like Khalil Mack, but that gives up part of the future when the present isn't going so well. If the trade deadline is like Christmas, let's hope the Seahawks deliver no presents.
Add us as a preferred source on Google