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Seahawks GM John Schneider has orchestrated major changes this offseason.
The Seahawks have only been defending Super Bowl Champions for less than a month, but they know that they are now the hunted, and teams will act accordingly, especially in their division, the NFC West.
After completing the NFL scouting combine, the Seahawks are now looking towards both free agency and the draft, but there are also big-time trades to be made.
The Rams proved themselves to be the Seahawks’ most formidable foe this season, with each game decided by one score, and they’ve already gotten the jump on improving their roster.
McDuffie Enters the Rivalry
On Wednesday, the Rams made the biggest splash of the offseason so far, trading for All-Pro Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs.
McDuffie, the two-time Super Bowl Champion, was traded to the Rams for a giant haul. He went for a 2026 first, fifth, sixth, and 2027 third round pick. However, in a year where the Super Bowl is at their home stadium, the Rams are going all in.
The team also wants a lockdown corner that can go toe to toe with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Against the Rams, Smith-Njigba had games of 105, 96, and 153 yards receiving on the Rams’ secondary last season.
Sarah Barshop of ESPN wrote in her March 4 article about McDuffie’s impact on the Rams.
“According to NFL Next Gen Stats, McDuffie has allowed 6.0 yards per target in coverage in the last two seasons, which is the third best among defensive backs who have been targeted at least 150 times,” Barshop said. “His eight career forced fumbles are the most among all NFL cornerbacks since 2022, according to ESPN Research.”
With the Rams adding another weapon on defense, all eyes will be on the Seahawks and what moves they make next to correspond.
Arms Race
The Seahawks and general manager John Schneider will need to get creative this offseason with the team having only four draft picks, and possibly losing both Kenneth Walker and Rashid Shaheed in free agency.
Seahawks reporter Corbin Smith of Emerald Spectrum on Twitter discussed the competitiveness taking place in the NFC West and how Schneider will respond.
“I do not expect the Rams getting McDuffie to be the last major trade in the NFC West,” Smith said. “There’s an arms race ongoing. Seahawks don’t love this draft class, and if the right deal presents itself, John Schneider will be ready to pull the trigger.”
Last season, the Seahawks’ big trade was of star wide receiver DK Metcalf, but this season they’ll likely be looking to add another star player rather than trading one of their own.
Smith discussed on Twitter that the major position of need the Seahawks are hoping to address is edge on defense.
“Speaking with people around the league past few days, EDGE continues to be the position that I think the Seahawks are primed to make a major trade or a significant splash in free agency,” Smith said. “John Schneider has been investigating several possibilities.”
Hearing the Seahawks are looking to make a splash at the edge will immediately bring to mind Maxx Crosby, and with Schneider’s aggressiveness combined with Crosby’s desire to be traded from the Raiders, the pieces could fall into place.
Chad Gelfand Chad Gelfand is a journalist covering the NFL with focus on the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, and Carolina Panthers for Heavy.com. Gelfand has over six years of writing experience.
Gelfand previously covered the Philadelphia Eagles for Last Word On Sports. He also has experience writing in the worlds of entertainment and wrestling.
Gelfand was an Entertainment writer for the List.com, and a contributor for Fansided’s wrestling website Daily DDT and The Wrestling Estate. Gelfand has also appeared multiple times as a guest on POST Wrestling’s “Bushby and Thompson’s Wrestling Adventure” podcast. More about Chad Gelfand
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