As the Seahawks sit this week at 3-1, many people seem surprised by this, but not I!

I have written many times over that this season could be an exciting one for Seattle, with a strong defense that could be tops in the league, and an offensive that could be better at quarterback and scheme. Thus far, my projections for this team are looking good, and we are now nearing the point of the season where John Schneider has often times made trades to help give his team a boost.

It was around this time of the season, in 2010, where Schneider sent a 4th round pick to Buffalo for Marshawn Lynch who became disgruntled with the Bills. This was also the time of the year back in 2017 when he traded a third round pick to the Texans for veteran left tackle Duane Brown to cement Seattle’s bid for the playoffs. He also plucked safety Quandre Diggs out of Detroit close to this time of year some years back in exchange for a mere 6th round pick.

Aside from the Russell Wilson deal to Denver, I would argue that Schneider’s best trades have generally come mid season for this club. With teams quickly finding themselves out of contention, the value for players generally becomes much better for the buyers as sellers look to acquire as many draft picks as possible while staring at a rebuild. John has proven to be very good at determining what his team’s deficiencies are, and finding good value to correct. Leonard Williams, Duane Brown, Marshawn, Carlos Dunlap, and Sheldon Richardson have all been big name players that he has been able to bring in.

As it stands right now, Seattle is sitting on a rare amount of salary cap space to get a bit splashier with trades this season, if they so choose to do it. Given Schneider’s track record, I am almost certain that we will see a move of two in the coming weeks, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a move comes sooner.

As we know, it has been reported by Ian Rapoport that several teams are sniffing around cornerback Riq Woolen, and this makes sense. Seattle has a rare jog jam at cornerback, and Woolen is in a contract year, and has played probably too inconsistent for the Mike Macdonald’s tastes. He’s still an elite athlete at a highly coveted position, however, and he’s young. This makes him probably a player that Seattle could get some decent value for in exchange, maybe not so much in draft capital, but perhaps in a player for player swap. So, there’s this to think about, as well.

At any rate, here are some players rumored to potentially be on the trade market that I would love to see Seattle consider bringing in at this time. I would venture to say that if anyone of these fellas becomes a Seahawk in the next few days and weeks, I would find it pretty gosh darn exciting.

Saints Running Back Alvin Kamara

I understand if Alvin Kamara to Seattle is a bit of a left field idea for you. Seattle has two talented young backs who split duties, so why bring in an expensive 30 year player to add to this mix? Here is my reasoning.

Ken Walker is a highly talented running back who is in a contract year like Riq Woolen, and has yet to really prove that he is a fit for the zone blocking scheme of Klint Kubiak. Not only is he still showing a tentativeness behind the line of scrimmage that leads to negative plays, I have seen film breakdown of him against the Cardinals on TNF where he showed an inexcusable laziness running a check down route that led to Sam Darnold having to dirt the ball away instead of getting an easy completion under pressure. This had to have been a play where his coaches probably didn’t love that, and it stands to wonder how many more plays like this he has before he has reached Woolen status with Macdonald and Kubiak, as well.

Let me explain this to you in the easiest terms I can use regarding Seattle’s offensive scheme. It is fully designed to marry the pass game to the run, and it requires quick decisions from the QB, receivers, and runners. QBs need to make quick reads, and make fast and accurate throws. Receivers need to run quick and precise routes. Running backs must hit their holes decisively, and have the vision to see lanes, however minuet those creases might be, to make cutback moves for positive gains.

Some backs have very natural instincts for this, and other backs struggle with it, but you cannot play hesitant behind your blockers no matter how muddy it is in front of them with defenders. Any hesitation behind the line of scrimmage by a running back can seriously fuck up an offensive series, especially against a good defensive front.

This is the negative impact that K9 can have on the Seattle offense if he cannot get these tendencies out of his game. I see little evidence, thus far, even with that nice game against the Steelers, that leads me to believe he can fit this thing here. I think Zach Charbonnet can, but when K9 is in the game, it feels very boom or bust on a series. He will make plays that will lead you to believe he’s one of the very best backs in the game, but then he will do things that will pull your hair out in frustration. I, for one, am tired of that frustration.

I don’t think Seattle would get much value to trading away K9 right now, so I am not suggesting that Seattle should necessarily deal him away. I will say that I lack trust in him as Seattle’s featured runner, however, and I feel more trust in Charbonnet.

The problem with this two headed monster for Seattle, in my view, is that it appears that the coaches prefer Charbonnet as the third down back because of his better pass blocking and maybe receiver skills. This means that they probably want to preserve this role for him, and use K9 more on first and second downs, and right now they are living with the potential collateral damage of K9 doing some weird ass thing on any given play in the hopes that he hits it right.

Alvin Kamara understands Kubiak’s offense, having played in it last year. He had nice production in it last year for the Saints, and at age 30 with an expensive contract, the trade compensation for Seattle probably wouldn’t be much. In fact, Seattle could deal Riq Woolen probably straight across for him, and maybe even get something in addition back, as well. The Saints would then have the rest of the season to see if Woolen is someone who they would want to extend long term, and Seattle would get better stability in its the run game.

I just know that, in this particular scheme, Seattle needs running backs that get it, and can offer positive plays with regularity. Karama is still a talented runner, and he’s a good pass catcher. You can rely on him, even at age 30. That’s why I am into this idea for Seattle. I really like it a lot, and if this creates a log jam at running back, that is a log jam worth having for this offensive philosophy.

Saints Receiver Chris Olave

What if I were to tell you that in next few days or weeks, Seattle deals Riq Woolen to Vegas for a third round pick, and then they send that third rounder and maybe a late round pick to New Orleans for wideout Chris Olave who also played for Klint Kubiak? Would you get excited about that?

Or how about Woolen and a 5th round pick to straight across to NOLA for Olave? How would that make you feel?

Sam Darnold would have Jaxon Smith Ngijba (who is having a sensational start to the season), Olave, Cooper Kupp, promising rookie Tory Horton, and Jake Bobo all as viable passing targets to carry forth his own impressive start to the season, and he would have Olave signed through 2026. I think this is a pretty fun thought.

Olave knows the system, has played with JSN back in their Ohio State days, and offers youthful proven insurance for the potential of Kupp wearing down, or JSN getting injured. He has the speed to stretch defenses, and like JSN, he can run every short to intermediate route, as well..

His concussions are a concern, and probably to the extent of hampering his trade value, but with the depth Seattle would have at receiver with his addition, he likely wouldn’t be asked to be The Guy. JSN is The Guy in this offense. Darnold also has chemistry with Kupp and growing chemistry with Horton. Olave could come in without the pressure of having to be at the forefront right away, but rather being the guy who can provide big catches as the season wears on, and potentially being the Sundance Kid to JSN’s Butch Cassidy in future seasons.

For these reasons, I really dig this idea a lot.

Saints Guard/Center Cesar Ruiz

I am going to stay with New Orleans one more time here and suggest that if they drop to 0-4, and begin a fire sale, perhaps Seattle could decide to take the opportunity to fortify their young offensive line by trading for Cesar Ruiz who is currently the Saints starting right guard but also has a lot of center in his background. Anthony Bradford has been playing well for the Seahawks this year at right guard, but what if Klint Kubiak sees an opportunity to land Ruiz and have him play center here?

Ruiz hasn’t played very well for the Saints this year, but last season was his best year as a pro while he was coached by the bulk of Seattle’s offensive staff. He knows this blocking scheme, and he knows the offensive line coaches very well. The Saints have Erik McCoy as their starting center, and he’s one of the best ones in the game, so Ruiz had to find a home at guard to get on the field. He played center in college, however, and it isn’t hard to imagine that he could take that position over for the Seahawks now, and have it solidified for the next several seasons.

This move could see Jalen Sundell in the role of a valuable swing offensive lineman capable of playing all five positions on the offensive line in a pinch. Sundell has not played terrible for Seattle this year at center, but sometimes I wonder if he’s got enough premium strength inside to hold up to bigger stronger DTs in the league. Center is not a position that requires the strongest guys on the OL, but having a strong ass M’fer inside at the position doesn’t hurt, either. Ruiz is that kinda player, and he is very familiar with the zone blocking scheme.

An offensive line that consists of Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Cesar Ruiz, Anthony Bradford, and Abe Lucas feels potentially very young and formidable. Jalen Sundell could provide the ever valuable swing player in that group as he came into the league as an undrafted left tackle and impressed Mike Macdonald with his intelligence and athleticism.

I don’t know if the Saints would entertain parting with Ruiz even in his struggles this year, but they might. Therefore, a player for player trade of Woolen for Ruiz straight across doesn’t seem all that crazy to me. Perhaps both players need new landing spots.

Dolphins Receiver Jaylon Waddle

Like the Saints, Miami is a team that appears on the verge of being early sellers at the trade deadline. They host the Jets on MNF. If they drop to 0-4 after that game, I think there’s a decent chance their head coach gets fired, and they go into a fire sale mode.

People are pointing to Tyreek Hill as being a high probable trade candidate for clubs, but Seattle won’t likely be suitors. Under Mike Macdonald, they are even more character driven as a club than they have been in year’s past, and Hill’s character is simply not a fit up here.

But could Jaylen Waddle also be a potential trade option? Waddle is younger than Hill, less of a headache, and would probably net more value for the Dolphins who could be staring at a major rebuild yet again.

Given the fact that Waddle also comes with a bit of an injury history, like Olave, I don’t think that trade compensation for him would be very backbreaking for an NFL front office. A mere third round pick might be enough to do it, and if that is all it is, Seattle would acquire a guy who is a field stretcher, and plays in a similar scheme, and would be locked into a contract through 2027. One would think that perhaps player for player trade involving Woolen might get it done, as well.

It’s a fun thought on par to the Chris Olave idea.

Dolphins Middle Linebacker Jordyn Brooks

I am going to stay with the Dolphins here and switch to defense for a moment. Seattle’s defense has pretty much been lights out through four games, but depth at the inside linebackers spots still make me a bit nervous. I love Ernest Jones as a Seahawk, and I am happy with how Tyrice Knight and Drake Thomas have platooned at weak side linebacker together.

I’m nervous as to what happens with Seattle’s defense should Jones get injured. Knight and Thomas feel like classic, run, cover, and hit WILL linebackers, and I am not sure if they could handle the MIKE spot.

Seattle had an interest in re-signing Brooks during the 2024 offseason. They lost out on their pursuit for him, however, to the Dolphins when they were in an 11th hour period of heavy negotiations to extend star defensive tackle Leonard Williams on the eve of official free agency. It felt like a rare dropped ball by John Schneider, and one he admitted to being disappointed that they couldn’t get it done with him.

Is the Dolphins are to soon be big time sellers, does it not make sense for Seattle to explore getting Brooks back up here? I think it does.

He’s proven to be a very good run and hit WILL linebacker and he’s also proven that he can handle the MIKE spot, as well. Having him and Ernest Jones roaming the middle of the field is a fun thought, and I don’t think there was ever any ill will between Brooks and the Seattle’s front office. He just chose the sunshine and views on Miami Beach over the overcast damp days of Seattle in the Fall.

If Seattle doesn’t make a move on offense to strengthen its depth at receiver, or running back, decides that linebacker is an area they see an opportunity to further strengthen, I would not be upset with that, and I don’t imagine that the mid season trade value for Brooks would be that high. It wasn’t for Ernest Jones last year at mid season, and Jones is a better player. Riq Woolen for Brooks straight across feels very fair, if not altogether funny from a Seattle perspective.

Cowboys Defensive Tackle Mazi Smith

Mazi Smith was the first round pick for a Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is a massive human being at 6-3, 337 lbs, and he’s got unique athleticism for his size. He has not lived up the billing for the Cowboys, however, and the team acquired pro bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark from the Packers in the Micah Parsons trade.

There is a lot of speculation that they are ready to punt on Smith who is now in his third season, and they are also a team that happens to have a need at cornerback in order to improve their defense. I think this is a scenario where Seattle could deal Woolen to Dallas in exchange for Mazi Smith and maybe even get another pick or player in exchange, to be honest.

Smith played his college ball for Mike Macdonald when Macdonald was the architect of that impressive Michigan defense that featured Aidan Hutchinson. Macdonald knows him as a player, and the Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde also knows him from his days coaching Dallas defensive linemen.

The strength of the Seahawks defense is their defensive tackles and their secondary. I think there is value in the idea of making your strength even stronger, however, and Seattle would have a season and a half with Mazi Smith to see if they can turn him into a quality starting nose tackle. In the meantime, adding him now would provide an even deeper DT rotation which I think would be pretty darn sweet, especially if you might get a bit weaker at corner after a Woolen trade. You can never have enough quality defensive linemen, especially the big ones.

Look at what the Eagles did last year with their deep DT rotation. They won the whole damn thing with it. They dominated. I want to see Seattle dominate teams on defense again. This is why Macdonald was hired, and that is why I am into this idea.

Giants Edge Rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux

To be honest, I’m not sure Seattle would have much interest in Thibodeaux even though he’s a young player at a premium position, and he played college ball in the PNW. There were some rumblings a while back that when Seattle had a top ten pick in the 2022, he was a player who was off their list of prospects. Thibodeaux came out of Oregon as a guy with a bunch of hype, and a vibe that perhaps he was more concerned with his off field brand than being “all ball” on the field.

Being a LA kid, he also seemed inclined to prefer a destination that offered him a lot of bright lights, and a scene. That’s not Seattle, Washington, and I suspect that the Seattle front office, after dealing with high maintenance Russell Wilson for years wasn’t much interested in investing their first round pick on a player such as that. He was taken before Seattle picked, but the rumor is that Seattle wouldn’t have taken him if he was there, anyways.

Over recent years, the NY Giants appear like maybe they are ready to move from him. They traded for Brian Burns, and they drafted Penn State star edge rusher Abdul Carter.

Thibodeaux hasn’t been a bad player for the Giants, but he’s not been the type of spectacular athlete that you would expect from a high NFL lotto pick, either. Personally, I don’t think he’s any better than Boye Mafe who Seattle took early in the second round of the same draft he was selected in.

So why would Seattle any have interest in acquiring him now?

Well, the Giants picked up his fifth year option on his rookie contract and he’d come to town with two years left on a rookie deal when Mafe is set to be a free agent, and that’s something in a salary cap driven game. Another thing is that you can never really have enough quality edge rushers.

Also, DeMarcus Lawrence is 31 years old, and Uchenna Nwosu has been very injury prone, as we all know. Derick Hall and Mafe appear to be the future, but what if Seattle is leaning more towards choosing Hall over Mafe in terms of contract extensions, and that will lead a hole on the roster next offseason as they allow Mafe to enter free agency. They could use the presence of Thibodeaux here in that scenario, and maybe a change of scenery and getting with a great defensive head coach is the thing Thibodeaux will crave as he looks to ascend as a player before he hits free agency in 2027. He’s played college ball up here in the left hand corner of the USA, so he would know what to expect even if it lacks the glitz he prefers.

Again, I don’t know how likely this would be a thing for Seattle. They might be very out on him still if those rumors were true, but you never totally know.

I think trade compensation would be fairly steep, easily a day two pick, but what if Seattle and the Giants discussed a Riq Woolen for Thibodeaux scenario? Seattle gets another talented young pass rusher, and the Giants get a young cornerback who still possesses the rare physical traits to be one of the better shutdown corners in the game, and they can look to franchise tag next offseason to work out a long term contract with.

Mike Macdonald seems to especially love his defensive line, and wants it to be a deep and rich rotation, and he seems to know what he likes at cornerback and the backend. It’s early in his tenure here, but it feels like he prefers to emphasize strength in the trenches. This is the main reason why I wouldn’t rule a trade like this out for this club.

Closing Thoughts

These are trade scenarios that if Seattle made in the next week or so that I would get pretty excited about. I am sure there’s other possibilities out there, as well, that make decent sense, but these are the type of moves I want to see the Seahawks go attack.

In addition to these proposals, I could see Seattle having particular interest in Saints receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed, who knows the Kubiak system, and is a legitimate deep threat. I could see Macdonald especially liking his special teams value on top of improving receiver depth, and not necessarily taking reps away from promising rookie Tory Horton, either. He’s one to watch for Seattle.

It’s also worth noting that Raider receiver Jakobi Meyers wants out of Vegas with a new contract, and if Pete Carroll covets Riq Woolen, Meyers for Riq makes sense for both clubs, although I think Meyers and Cooper Kupp on the same team together has a redundant vibe. Right now, I’m sorta so so on that idea, but I could warm to it.

I suppose one should never rule out Seattle pursing Cincinnati edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, either. I wouldn’t hate the idea. He’s a great pass rusher, and would definitely be a spark up front as Seattle looks to preserve leads late in games. I just don’t know how altogether well he would fit Macdonald’s hybrid front that asks its edge rushers to play end and linebacker. Hendrickson has only ever played in standard 4-3 defensive fronts, and asking him to do exotic drops at 6-5 270 pounds might make him limited on the field in certain situations. Seattle’s scheme requires ends who can also legitimately play linebacker, and I don’t know if that is in his game. I know it is with Thibodeaux.

Of these players mentioned, the two that I have the strongest interest in are most definitely Alvin Kamara, and Chris Olave. Both players know this scheme well, and I feel alright for Seattle to continue developing Sundell and Bradford at guard and center, and seeing where that goes. I would love to add more stable weapons around Sam Darnold as he leads this thing further along the coarse of the season. Either one of these guys would be an exciting get.

If I had to choose one single player for Seattle to go get, however, it is most definitely Alvin Kamara based on what I’ve seen through four games on the year. Seattle has got to get it’s run came going consistently through the remainder of the season, and it is fairly reasonable to expect that a young offensive line with some decent talent now with much better coaching will settle in better, but then it comes to the running backs here. I think we can be much better there.

I’ve been very harsh on K9 in this blog, perhaps too harsh, but in my view, his issues simply have not progressed enough entering into his fourth season here. He makes me nervous. I don’t want to see Sam Darnold play in a lot of third and long situations this year, I want to see mostly third and short, or at least third and manageable. I want runners who know, and trust, and have instincts for this particular scheme. I want running backs who know how to net positive yards even if the blocking isn’t totally there on a play. Alvin Kamara, I feel, is still very that type of player in this league.

So, I say go get him.

Woolen for him straight across? I would not be upset about that.

Go Hawks.