Seahawks Urged to Address ‘Glaring Roster Weakness’ at NFL Trade Deadline
Quarterback Sam Darnold is playing at a high level for the Seattle Seahawks this season. When healthy, the team also has a defense that is capable of being one of the top units in the league. That makes the Seahawks a candidate to acquire upgrades before the NFL’s trade deadline.
SI on Seahawks’ Tim Weaver argued Sunday that the best upgrade Seattle could make is at right guard. Starter Anthony Bradford has struggled in both run blocking and pass protection.
Weaver called Bradford in pass protection a “glaring roster weakness.”
To address that weakness, The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar encouraged the Seahawks to pursue three different guards — New York Jets’ John Simpson, Cleveland Browns’ Wyatt Teller and Tennessee Titans’ Kevin Zeitler.
“All three players are on expiring contracts with teams that aren’t going anywhere this season,” wrote Dugar.
“Given that those moves would likely be half-year rentals, Seattle probably wouldn’t benefit much from giving up anything more than 2027 draft capital, as it did in the midseason deal for Roy Robertson-Harris last year. If any of those three teams are willing to play ball, though, general manager John Schneider should make a deal.”
All three teams should be motivated to make a deal happen since each are arguably already out of the playoff hunt. And as Dugar indicated, the three guards will be free agents in March.
Those teams could be interested in anything they can get for those veteran guards. All three would offer Seattle an upgrade over Bradford in pass blocking.
Seahawks Again Linked to Wyatt Teller Before NFL Trade Deadline
The Seahawks connected to the Browns offensive guard is nothing new. Teller has been one of the more popular rumored offensive line trade candidates for Seattle this fall.
Pundits only continue to mention Teller as a Seahawks target because of Bradford’s struggles.
“Bradford is one of the lowest-rated guards according to PFF, ranking 73rd out of 82 eligible players, and he’s particularly underperformed in the passing game, ranking 80th in pass-block grade,” wrote Heavy Sports’ Derek Rose. “With the Seahawks (5-2) showing promise as true NFC contenders, many fans and analysts are clamoring for the team to upgrade at right guard, likely via trade.”
Teller didn’t receive any post-season accolades in 2024. But from 2020-23, he made second-team All-Pro twice and the Pro Bowl three times. During that stretch, Teller was arguably one of the most underrated guards in the league.
Teller is in the final year of a four-year, $56.8 million contract. He has a $12.45 million cap hit for this season.
Could Seahawks Target John Simpson or Kevin Zeitler?
The more available guards who could be an upgrade over Bradford, the better for the Seahawks. That will allow the team to land a better guard while not needing to give up a lot in trade compensation.
Guards on expiring contracts are also likely to be the preferred targets for Seattle.
Like Teller, Simpson and Zeitler each fulfill that requirement. Simpson is finishing a two-year, $12 million deal that gives him roughly a $6.7 million cap hit in 2025. Zeitler joined the Titans this past offseason on a one-year, $9 million deal.
Simpson is the younger option, but Zeitler is more accomplished and has more playoff experience.
Zeitler is in his 14th NFL season and made the Pro Bowl in 2023. He has made seven playoff starts. Simpson is seven and a half years younger and has made two playoff appearances with the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens.
The Seahawks have options in the guard market. That’s a major positive because acquiring a player to replace Bradford is becoming necessary for Seattle.
Broncos 'aggressively' pursuing receiver help for Bo Nix at trade deadline
The Denver Broncos are sitting atop the AFC West and look to have a real chance to solidify a division title with a strong second half of the year.
With an elite defense, the offense needs to keep pace to secure a winning record down the stretch and stave off the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs in the division.
Bolstering that offense is something the Brocnos are reportedly looking to do at the trade deadline. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Broncos are one of three AFC contenders that are aggressively pursuing wide receiver help at the deadline.
Broncos aggressively pursuing wide receiver help at trade deadline
"The three teams that appear to be most aggressively pursuing a wide receiver before the deadline are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, and Denver Broncos, according to sources," Schefter reports.
The reasoning for the Browns adding wide receiver help is clear. While Courtland Sutton is a good number one option for Bo Nix, with Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims still developing, having a stronger number two option would be a huge boost.
Pat Bryant is a rookie who is still developing and likely won't be a major factor right away. Adding a veteran receiver, like Rashid Shaheed, could help round out the Broncos' offensive attack.
Denver is also being linked to tight end help at the deadline, signaling that the Broncos are looking to bolster their offense at the upcoming trade deadline.
More: Broncos predicted to trade with Saints to reunite Sean Payton with his favorite joker
Their defense is one of, if not the best, units in the NFL. But, offensively, the Broncos could use some help to better flesh out their room.
Regardless of the style of receiver the Broncos are looking for, any help on offense would be an ideal pickup for Denver at the deadline.
According to Schefter, the Broncos are eying wide receiver help, and are among the three most aggressive teams in pursuing such help. With such a strong defense, adding another receiver for Nix could elevate the Broncos to be among the league's top Super Bowl contenders.
