The Seahawks made the first major move ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, landing All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts in a deal that signals Indianapolis is shifting hard into sell mode.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, the Colts are sending Nelson to Seattle after deciding to cash in on an expiring contract rather than risk losing him in free agency. Schefter reported, “Trade: Colts have agreed to send eight-time Pro-Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks, per me and (Ian Rapoport). Nelson is on an expiring contract and the Colts are opting to get back draft capital now before they could lose him in free agency,”
Schefter later added that Indianapolis is getting two picks back: a 2027 third-rounder and a 2028 fifth-rounder.
For the Colts, the move fits the direction their season has taken. After the collapse that led to the firing of general manager Chris Ballard, they had been viewed as a prime trade candidate for weeks. Now it’s official, and Nelson is the first big piece out the door.
From Seattle’s side, the fit is obvious. The Seahawks entered the season with a clear hole at guard while trying to repeat as Super Bowl champs, and Nelson gives them immediate high-end help. He’s been one of the league’s premier interior linemen since entering the NFL, with eight Pro Bowl selections and six All-Pro honors, including three first-team nods.
And this isn’t a name being moved on reputation alone. Nelson is still playing at a high level in 2026.
The 30-year-old has produced Pro Football Focus grades of 85.7 overall, 82.3 as a run blocker and 81.9 as a pass blocker, ranking third, seventh and third among guards. He also hasn’t allowed a sack and has given up just six pressures in 275 pass-blocking snaps.
The only real question now is where he lines up. Nelson has played left guard throughout his Colts career, but Seattle’s 2025 first-round pick Grey Zabel is already starting there, which suggests Nelson may end up on the other side.
However it shakes out, the Seahawks just added a major piece to their push to repeat.
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