Last week, I published an article discussing potential trade targets for the Seattle Seahawks before the deadline. Many of the comments indicated that fans see the Seahawks more as “sellers” than “buyers.”
If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, “sellers” are teams that don’t have high expectations for the rest of the season and trade their players to gain more draft picks or cap space for the following year. On the other hand, “buyers” are teams that believe they are in playoff contention and look to reinforce specific areas of their roster to boost their chances of reaching the postseason.
Let’s explore some possibilities here.
First things first
I can’t place too much expectation on this option. It’s not that I disagree with the idea that the Seahawks are better positioned as sellers than buyers, but I just don’t have much confidence in John Schneider.
Sure, the GM pulled off a great trade with Russell Wilson, but prior to that, both in free agency and trades, the once-called “Wizard of Trades” didn’t have the same success. Yes, he managed to trade Cassius Marsh to the Patriots for a fifth and seventh-round pick, and Nick Vannett to the Steelers for a fifth.
However, his recent trades haven’t been as impressive. Trading Darrell Taylor was the right move, but I thought he could’ve at least gotten a fifth-round pick, especially considering Trevis Gipson was traded for the same and he wasn’t even active in the last game.
Then there’s the Nick Harris trade to the Browns, which happened the day after their backup C/G Luke Wypler got injured. And all Schneider could get was a conditional seventh-round pick next year? He couldn’t even get one for this year?
Finally, there was Mike Jackson’s trade to Carolina. I get that Jackson was going to be cut, but the timing worked out perfectly for the Panthers since they needed a starter after Dane Jackson got hurt. And what did Schneider get in return? A rookie linebacker, Michael Barrett, who was so good that he was cut shortly after and isn’t even on any team’s practice squad right now.
Main Trade Targets
Noah Fant, TE
Ryan Grubb’s offense doesn’t prioritize the tight end position, which is evident from the fact that out of the four tight ends on the roster, three are primarily used as blockers.
Noah Fant is a fairly common type of player in the NFL—an athletic prospect who came with high expectations, but so far, he has yet to live up to even half of them. He’s never been a true threat after the catch, struggles with blocking, and has difficulty winning contested catches.
I wasn’t a fan of his contract extension and would prefer to give rookie AJ Barner a shot if a good trade offer came through.
A team with an established offense might see Fant as a complementary piece to their receiving corps, but his $7.5 million cap hit this year could be a sticking point unless Seattle makes some adjustments to his contract. Next year, the team could save $12 million against the cap, with $4.5 million in dead money.
Dre’Mont Jones, DL
One of the earliest pieces I wrote for Field Gulls discussed how Jones’ role would evolve in 2024. Sadly, like the rest of the defense, he hasn’t had any standout moments.
With every game, he’s edging closer to being compared to Cary Williams, who was released in the first year of his three-year contract back in 2015. Jones’ past performance with the Broncos might still make some contenders consider adding him to their rotation.
However, similar to Fant, the biggest obstacle to a trade would be his salary cap implications. Any team acquiring him would take on around $10 million, with a massive $25 million cap hit looming next year.
DK Metcalf, WR
This name is likely the most polarizing among the fan base. Early in the offseason, I advocated for re-signing him before the market prices skyrocketed.
“Oh, but that’s not how John operates.” True, it’s rare. But time has done this for Julian Love, who hasn’t contributed much to the Seahawks, especially when compared to what DK has brought over the years.
Now we’re in the midst of a three-game losing streak, and DK has been plagued by turnovers and a lack of involvement in the game plan. In Seattle’s most recent primetime game, he was overheard expressing frustration to OC Ryan Grubb, asking for more deep targets. This could be stirring up issues in the locker room.
There’s been speculation about other receivers being traded. Las Vegas WR Davante Adams has been at the center of trade rumors for weeks, as has Tyreek Hill after Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion. The Jets, Steelers, Saints, and Packers have all been mentioned as potential destinations. The Buffalo Bills might also be in the mix. And since not all of these teams can land Adams, they might view DK as a solid fallback option.
Other Trade Targets
These players are likely to generate less interest, potentially being traded for lower draft picks or swapped directly for another player. They may be viewed as short-term fixes for teams dealing with injury issues.
Jarran Reed, DT
He revitalized his career during his second tenure in Seattle, excelling in defending against the run despite the overall weakness of the defense in that area. He also recorded his best sack numbers since the 2018 season.
However, Seattle’s defensive line has been underperforming, and he might be the only player available for trade. This would allow the team to give more playing time to rookie Byron Murphy and second-year player Cameron Young.
Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson, LBs
They joined Seattle to play a key role in the defense, but throughout their careers, they’ve mostly been supporting players. This increased responsibility has been a challenge for the team.
That said, they had some solid performances with the Dolphins and Bills, respectively. Trading them could allow Seattle to utilize Tyrice Knight more effectively, while the team acquiring them would likely view the deal as a temporary solution.
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