The Seahawks have already made one big swing, and that’s why the Jonathan Taylor chatter now feels different.
Earlier this week, Seattle landed eight-time Pro-Bowl guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts, a move that signaled John Schneider and the front office are still willing to chase high-end talent at the NFL Trade Deadline. Nelson steps in as an immediate upgrade up front, and the trade briefly opened the door to the idea that the Seahawks might not be finished dealing.
That’s where Taylor entered the picture. The Colts running back had been linked to Seattle, and the fit made sense on paper.
But as Sunday’s reporting from ESPN’s Ian and Adam Schefter made clear, the market around Taylor is already moving without Seattle front and center. Schefter said Indianapolis is open to trading the three-time Pro-Bowl back, and named the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants as teams active in talks.
Seattle was notably absent from that group.
That doesn’t shut the door completely. It does, however, suggest the Seahawks may be leaning toward seeing what they already have before making another major move.
There’s a reason for that. Seattle could get veteran running back Zach Charbonnet and rookie running back Jadarian Price back from injury for Week 8’s Monday Night Football matchup with the Chicago Bears. After adding Nelson and potentially getting Charbonnet and Price back, the team may want a look at that group together before deciding whether another trade is worth the cost.
And the cost could be steep. The Seahawks still have time to make a call after the Bears game, but they may be wary of paying a premium for an older running back. Indianapolis already reportedly turned down a package that included a second-round pick and an additional pick, which suggests the Colts are holding out for more - possibly another pick, or at least a first-rounder.
Seattle does have multiple picks on day-two and day-three of the NFL Draft, but first- or second-round capital is a different conversation. The front office could choose to use Price as its answer instead of spending an early pick, but that would mean moving on from a young back before he’s had several chances to prove himself. Price was drafted to be a dynamic starting running back for several years in the Seahawks’ backfield.
The bigger issue, though, may be the running game itself. Seattle is 17th in the league in rushing yards per game at 113.7, and the offense has been dragged down by poor line play, turnovers and a lack of explosiveness.
If Nelson’s arrival, along with the possible return of Charbonnet and Price, doesn’t change that, then the problem may run deeper than any one back. And if the Seahawks do spend more assets on Taylor only to keep running into the same issues, it would raise uncomfortable questions about where this season is headed.
In Other News...
Seahawks Just Got An NFC West Opening Fans Have To Watch
The NFC West has a way of turning one teams bad break into another teams opening, and the Rams are dealing with enough injury trouble to make the division race feel a little more fluid than it did a few weeks ago. With Myles Garrett and Davante Adams both part of the conversation around what has gone wrong in Los Angeles, the Seahawks suddenly have a clearer path to chip away at the standings if they can keep taking care of business themselves.
Seattle does not need a perfect finish to benefit from the situation, but it does need to stay attentive to how the division unfolds around it. The Rams health issues have already affected their performance, and the Seahawks are positioned to make that matter if they can capitalize on the next stretch of games. For a team trying to climb in a tight race, this is the kind of opening that can disappear quickly if it is not seized. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Backfield Just Got Much More Interesting Before Monday Night
The Seahawks backfield is about to get a lot more crowded on Monday night, with Zach Charbonnet expected to make his 2026 season debut against the Bears after working his way back from a torn ACL. Charbonnet, who was hurt in last seasons playoffs, has gone through surgery and a lengthy rehab process, and his return adds another layer to a rushing group that already had to adjust without him.
Charbonnet and teammate Jadarian Price both carry no injury designations and are expected to play, giving Seattle another healthy option as it heads into a nationally televised matchup. For a team trying to sort out how its backfield will look moving forward, this is the kind of development that can change the conversation quickly, even if the full picture wont be clear until the game unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Face One Costly Problem That Could Decide Monday Night
The Seahawks get a prime-time chance to build on their win over the Chiefs, but Monday night brings a different kind of test against a Bears team that has found real rhythm on offense under Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson. Seattle has plenty to like after beating Kansas City, yet the margin for error shrinks fast in a game like this, especially when the opponent can stress a defense with speed and a quarterback who can extend plays.
For Seattle, the biggest concern is not just matching Chicago score for score, but cleaning up the details that can swing a close game. Red zone efficiency and pre-snap penalties loom as the most obvious trouble spots, and the Seahawks will need sharper execution to avoid giving away chances in a matchup that could come down to a few possessions. [Read more 🡒]