3 trades that could help Seahawks move up to take a quarterback in 2025 NFL draft

Does Seattle want to do a mini-rebuild?

Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks | Ronald Martinez/GettyImages

What are the Seattle Seahawks going to do in the 2025 NFL draft? No one really knows. General manager John Schneider has made a history of doing the unexpected, and that has not always turned out well.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the team this offseason is what to do at quarterback. Geno Smith wants an extension, but the team is not jumping at the opportunity to give him one. Might Seattle be thinking of starting over a bit?

Only two quarterbacks are likely to be taken in the first round of the 2025 draft. Unlike last year, there are no players at the position who seem like locks to do well, and there is no quality depth. Still, if Schneider wants to take a quarterback then he would need to move up. Here are three ways he can do that.

Three trade scenarios for the Seattle Seahawks to move up to choose a quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft

Seahawks trade Geno Smith and first-round pick to Raiders for pick 6

New Raiders head coach Pete Carroll connecting with one of his former Seahawks quarterbacks would make sense. The coach-quarterback combination is the most vital in football, and the two need to trust each other. Carroll is trying to rebuild the culture of the Raiders quickly, of course, because he is the oldest coach in the league and has a three-year deal.

There is a decent chance that Las Vegas will sign Russell Wilson in free agency. Trading for Smith makes sense as well. Smith is the better quarterback of the two currently. The question would be how much Seattle needs to give up.

Smith is not going to bring a first-round pick back in any trade unless he is grouped with other choices or players. Plus, Seattle giving up their number 18 pick and Smith for pick number six (where Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward should still be available) is not too much to ask.

Seahawks trade DK Metcalf and first-round and third-round picks to Tennessee Titans for first pick overall

There is no doubt that moving up to number one would mean the Seahawks would have their choice of quarterback. The Titans have a bunch of needs, though, and it might take a lot from Seattle to get the top choice. Moving Metcalf (or Geno Smith) would probably have to be part of the deal. Tennessee needs a quarterback, but they need receivers even more.

There is also a decent chance the Titans would want more picks than listed above plus Metcalf, but that should not be worth it to the Seahawks. Losing Metcalf should only occur if the prize is big enough for Seattle. He would be worth at least a second-round pick on his own. Plus, Seattle still has a quarterback so they shouldn't overspend for another.

Seahawks trade Geno Smith and first-round pick to New York Giants for pick 3

The Titans could certainly take a quarterback first, and maybe they are simply throwing shadows by hinting they are looking for help at other positions first. They want to build the team up and then find a quarterback instead of the reverse. Assuming they pass on a QB, the Giants are the first truly QB-needy quarterback on the draft board.

The Cleveland Browns pick second, but they still have Deshaun Watson, even though he is far too expensive, underproductive, and will miss most of 2025 with a torn Achilles. They might sign a veteran quarterback to lead them for one year.

The Giants certainly need a long-term quarterback, but there is no guarantee that any team is sold on Sanders or Ward as being a true franchise quarterback. New York has a lot of needs, but Smith would make them better.

More Seahawks news and analysis:

Schedule