The Seattle Seahawks are 3-3, but the slide has arrived at a bad time. After dropping two in a row and three of their last four, they’re suddenly fighting against the kind of inconsistency that can bury a season if it keeps hanging around. Sam Darnold’s turnovers have become a problem, and the defense has not looked like the steady unit fans saw in Mike Macdonald’s previous two seasons.
There’s still time to dig out. The schedule hasn’t run dry yet, and the picture could change quickly in either direction. Even so, if Seattle wants to get back on track, general manager John Schneider may need to get active before the trade deadline on November 10.
One area that stands out immediately is the interior of the defensive line. The group has some strength, but the red zone results have been rough, with opponents scoring touchdowns 78.6 percent of the time once they get inside the 20.
The Seahawks do not need another interior pass rusher. What they need is a run defender who can handle part of the rotation, and a name like Los Angeles Chargers tackle Dalvin Tomlinson fits that mold.
Tomlinson is 32 and appears to have slipped out of favor in Los Angeles, but he has a track record of being strong against the run. A late-round pick could be enough to get him.
Cornerback is another spot that needs attention. Schneider rolled the dice at the position this offseason by selecting Julian Neal in the third round, but Neal was not supposed to be thrown into heavy duty right away.
Instead, Josh Jobe has occupied the outside corner role, followed by a rotation. Jobe has not been especially effective, while preseason additions Trevon Diggs and Terrion Diggs have barely seen the field, or not at all, for different reasons.
If Seattle wants its defense back near its usual level, the cornerback group needs a real boost.
That could even mean a reunion with Riq Woolen, who left for the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Philadelphia has struggled early and has already made moves that suggest it may not believe in a deep postseason run, if it even gets there. Seattle could try to pry Woolen loose with a fourth-round pick.
The offense could also use a different kind of receiver. A splashy deep threat is not what this roster needs.
What would actually help is a player with more of a Cooper Kupp profile than a Rashid Shaheed one, though Tory Horton already fits that general mold. Darnold needs someone who can separate on short routes and help move the chains, while offensive coordinator Brian Fleury needs receivers who can do their part in the run game.
That is why a player like Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jauan Jennings makes sense. He may not be everyone’s favorite because of his attitude, but he plays like a team-first receiver and does the dirty work, including blocking. Seattle would not have to pay a premium for that kind of help, either; a Day 3 pick should be enough to make a deal.
In Other News...
NFL Just Confirmed Seahawks Fans Had Every Right To Be Furious
Late in Seattles matchup with San Francisco, Jaxon Smith-Njigba took a hit from 49ers safety Malik Mustapha that never drew a flag on the field, even though it was later deemed a violation for hitting a defenseless player. The lack of a penalty at the time left Seahawks fans with plenty to gripe about, especially in a game where every late snap carried extra weight.
The NFLs review backed up that frustration, fining Mustapha $6,998 for the play and effectively confirming the missed call. No other players from the game were fined, but for Seattle supporters, the bigger point is hard to miss: the league looked at the same hit and came to the conclusion many in the building already had. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Backfield Picture Could Get More Interesting Than Fans Realize
Week 6 is bringing a little more uncertainty to the running back landscape than usual, and it is the kind of wrinkle Seahawks fans can keep an eye on even if the names involved are elsewhere. Quinshon Judkins, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, TreVeyon Henderson, Alvin Kamara and Rico Dowdle are all listed as questionable, with practice participation varying from player to player as teams sort through injuries and workload concerns heading into the weekend.
Jadarian Price adds another layer to the picture, even though he is still on injured reserve for now. His coach said a return could come as early as Week 8, which means the backfield conversation is only getting started in a league where availability can change the depth chart fast. For a Seattle team always watching the market and the ripple effects around it, these are the kinds of updates that can quietly shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Have A Pass Protection Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Through six games, the Seahawks offensive line has already become one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and the latest reminder came in a rough afternoon against Denver. Pro Football Focus charted 26 pressures allowed on quarterback Sam Darnold, who was under duress 27 times overall, a number that underscored just how often the pocket collapsed before plays could fully develop.
It was not just one spot breaking down, either. Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Jalen Sundell, Grey Zabel, Christian Haynes and Beau Stephens all had their share of pressures allowed, while George Holani has also had trouble in pass protection. For a team trying to build any kind of offensive rhythm, the issue is no longer isolated enough to shrug off, and it is starting to shape every conversation about how the offense can function going forward. [Read more 🡒]