The Seahawks are 3-3 through six weeks, and with the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching, Brock and Salk spent Tuesday weighing which names might actually make sense for Seattle if the market opens up.
The conversation centered on four players who have been floated as possible trade candidates: Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and guard Quenton Nelson, Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
Running back was the first spot Brock Huard pushed back on. Seattle’s ground game has been uneven, but the Seahawks also have reinforcements on the way with Zach Charbonnet and first-round pick Jadarian Price expected back soon. Huard also pointed to the money involved and the roster decisions still ahead for Seattle.
“I don’t think that money is going to be spent on an older running back,” Huard said. “Both (are) unbelievably talented, but I would preference Quenton Nelson in this conversation.”
That’s where both hosts landed: Nelson looked like the cleaner fit. The Colts’ lineman is a first-round pick from 2018, a six-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, and he’s in the final year of his contract. Seattle has a history under general manager John Schneider of trading for players on expiring deals and then working out new contracts afterward.
“You get a real look a little bit like Leonard Williams, a little bit like these moves you’ve made in the past with a veteran guy. You get a real look without being on the hook for years and years and years to come,” Huard said.
“And that guy, like some of the others that have come before him, may get here and be like, ‘Oh, this is what it’s supposed to be like. Oh, this is a first-class, winning, championship organization.’
(Nelson has) not really been around that.”
A deal for Nelson would almost certainly affect the current starting lineup, likely pushing right guard Anthony Bradford out of the role.
“It does offer you an opportunity to get better and better,” Mike Salk said. “Now, all that being said, Anthony Bradford’s coming back and everybody seems really excited about what he brings to the team, but he’s not Quenton Nelson.”
There’s also a little added intrigue with Indianapolis because Ed Dodds has taken over as the interim general manager there. Dodds spent 10 years with the Seahawks from 2007-16, including seven seasons alongside Schneider.
Mack was the other name that drew real interest. The 35-year-old pass rusher is on an 0-6 Chargers team, has three sacks and five tackles for loss in six games, and is playing on a one-year, $18 million deal. For Seattle, he’d be the kind of move aimed at improving the defense right now.
“You’ve got Price returning, you’ve got Charbonnet returning. If those guys are who they’re supposed to be, then you shouldn’t need to make a trade for a running back,” Salk said.
“But the other two names, I would want heavy consideration around them. Khalil Mack and an opportunity to make this defense even better and get to the passer in key spots?
Absolutely. And yeah, Quenton Nelson’s got to be the most interesting name on there because he’s the single best player at his position in the NFL, and adding that to this offensive line pays dividends in so many ways.”
In Other News...
Seahawks May Finally Get The Backfield Boost They Need Most
Zach Charbonnet is closing in on a season debut, and for a Seahawks offense that has been searching for more traction on the ground, the timing could hardly be better. After recovering from a torn ACL, the running back was designated to return to practice on Oct. 1, and Mike Macdonald said there is a good chance he could be back in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seattle has needed a lift in its running game, and Charbonnets return would add a familiar piece to the backfield at a moment when the team could use one. The final step is whether he gets through the week and onto the field, but the possibility alone gives the Seahawks a different look as they head into a tough matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Linked To A Move That Could Change Their Offense
Jonathan Taylor has suddenly become one of the more interesting names to watch as the trade market starts to take shape around a Colts team that has already slid to 2-4 and is trying to sort out its future. Indianapolis recently fired general manager Chris Ballard, and the front office picture is only getting messier with reports that Peyton Manning could be in the mix as a replacement. Against that backdrop, it is no surprise that teams looking to strengthen their offense are checking in.
The Bengals are one of the clubs linked to Taylor, and the Seahawks have also reportedly inquired, which tells you how much attention a proven running back can draw when a season starts to wobble. For Seattle, it is the kind of phone call that fits a bigger search for answers on offense, even if nothing is settled yet. The real question now is whether Indianapolis is willing to listen seriously, or whether this is just the first wave of interest before the market gets even busier. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A High-Stakes Sauce Gardner Decision
Seattles cornerback room has been under the microscope for weeks, and the conversation around it only gets louder when a name like Sauce Gardner enters the picture. The Colts corner is the kind of proven talent that can change how a defense looks on the field, and for a Seahawks team trying to stabilize that part of the roster, the fit is easy to imagine even if the cost is not.
Gardners contract status makes him more than just a rental target, and the asking price would likely force Seattle to weigh whether its willing to part with premium draft capital. The timing adds another layer, too, with Gardner working back from a left calf strain and expected to return soon, leaving the Seahawks to decide whether this is the rare chance to chase an answer at corner or too rich a move for a roster with plenty of other needs. [Read more 🡒]