The Indianapolis Colts may be open for business, and if that happens, the Seattle Seahawks could take a look on the defensive side of the ball too.
That’s the bigger question hanging over any potential deal: would Seattle even need to add anyone? The Seahawks are already so strong defensively that there’s a fair argument a trade wouldn’t change much. Still, there are a few Colts defenders who make sense as possibilities if Seattle decides it wants another piece.
Rylie Mills is the first name in that conversation, but the Seahawks’ own usage of him is telling. So is the film.
He has not shown the ability to handle the run, which keeps his snap count limited. If that continues, Seattle’s current three-man rotation may not be enough over the long haul.
That brings Grover Stewart into the picture. He has spent a decade as a steady, productive interior presence, plugging the middle at both one-tech and three-tech.
He is older now, but he should still be good for 15-20 useful snaps each week. With one year left on his contract and roughly $7 million remaining in base salary this season, he looks like the type of player who could be moved without much drama or cost.
DeForest Buckner is the more intriguing version of that same idea. He is the better playmaker, but his contract is trickier.
About half of his 2026 salary is tied up in bonus money, so Indianapolis would likely want more in return to make a deal worthwhile. Even so, he is also in a contract year, which keeps the logic simple from the Colts’ side.
The issue for Seattle would come after the trade. If Buckner wants a new deal immediately, the Seahawks may be out.
They already paid Leonard Williams, and Byron Murphy is coming due soon, so there is not room to hand out another big contract to an interior lineman. For the Seahawks to make this work, Buckner would need to be willing to play out the year and reach the market in March.
Then there is Laiatu Latu, who could be the most expensive of the bunch. Indianapolis would be trying to recover something after the Sauce Gardner disaster, and that means hunting for serious draft capital. Latu, a former first-round pick now in his third season, might be enough to bring back a first-rounder, though that is far from certain.
His production this year has been modest, with just one sack so far, but he posted 8.5 in 2025 and still has more than two years left on his deal if the fifth-year option is included. The fit would still need to be sorted out, since Mike would have to decide whether Latu fits his defense. If he does, the Seahawks would be getting a long-term edge rusher to pair with Derick Hall.
In Other News...
Seahawks May Be Learning A Painful Truth About Sam Darnold
Sam Darnolds first season in Seattle has been a reminder that a quarterbacks environment can change everything. After looking far more comfortable earlier in the year, his play has slid into troubling territory, with his numbers now sitting near the bottom among qualified quarterbacks and raising fresh questions about what the Seahawks have in him moving forward.
Jason La Canfora has pointed to the kind of roster churn that can quietly reshape an offense, noting the departures of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and running back Kenneth Walker III as possible reasons for the regression. Walker, meanwhile, is thriving with the Kansas City Chiefs, who remain undefeated, which only adds to the sting for Seattle as it tries to figure out what went wrong and whether Darnold can still steady the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Run Game Issue May Be Easier To Fix Than Fans Think
The Seahawks run game has been one of the quieter concerns of the season, and the numbers help explain why. Seattle sits 18th in yards per carry and 30th in EPA per rush, a rough combination for an offense that has wanted more balance. Analyst Daniel Jeremiah pointed to the injury-depleted backfield as a major reason, noting that rookie Jadarian Price is on injured reserve and the current primary backs have not provided the same burst in explosive runs.
There may be a relatively straightforward path to improvement, though, if the roster can get healthier. The possible returns of Zach Charbonnet and Price would give Seattle more options and, in theory, more juice in a ground game that has lacked it for much of the season. For a team trying to stabilize its offense, the fix might not require a scheme overhaul so much as a healthier rotation in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Trade Idea Hinges On Whether Eagles Would Move A Star Back
Seattles running game has not looked like the same engine it was a year ago, and the absence of Kenneth Walker has become part of that conversation. CBS Sports Carter Bahns pointed to that decision as one reason the Seahawks have had more trouble getting consistent production on the ground, then floated a bigger-name fix: Saquon Barkley. It is the kind of idea that immediately grabs attention because Barkley would give the offense a proven lead back and a very different level of stability.
There is a catch, of course, and it is a significant one. Barkley is under contract through 2028, and Philadelphia has not signaled any desire to move him, but the Eagles quarterback situation could change the conversation if Jalen Hurts injuries push them toward a broader roster rethink. For Seattle, the appeal is obvious: a shot at solving a glaring need with a star who could reshape the backfield, even if the path to getting him looks complicated from the start. [Read more 🡒]