The Seattle Seahawks might be eyeing a transformative move this offseason, and with General Manager John Schneider at the helm, bold maneuvers are always on the table. The Seahawks find themselves in a tight NFC West race, a division known for its fierce competition. Last season, despite matching the Los Angeles Rams with a 10-7 record, Seattle missed out on the playoffs due to tiebreakers favoring the Rams. Heading into the new season, the NFC West promises to be just as challenging, with a rejuvenated San Francisco 49ers squad and an Arizona Cardinals team building momentum. In such a competitive landscape, the Seahawks might need to roll the dice to gain the upper hand.
One potential game-changer for Seattle could be targeting high-impact players who are currently feeling discontented with their respective teams. Enter potential targets: the Pittsburgh Steelers’ prolific pass rusher, TJ Watt, and the Cincinnati Bengals’ tenacious edge threat, Trey Hendrickson. Both players have expressed their dissatisfaction over contract negotiations and are notably absent from their teams’ minicamps.
The Bengals, while not always the league’s biggest spenders, found ways to pay stars like Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase this offseason, possibly leaving Hendrickson shortchanged. Hendrickson has delivered back-to-back seasons of 17.5 sacks, making his case for a lucrative deal rock-solid. Similarly, TJ Watt’s consistent performance, boasting at least 11.5 sacks in six of his last seven seasons, coupled with his prowess against the run, makes him a valuable asset. The kicker, however, is their age—both are 30, which could be a factor for their current teams when considering hefty extensions.
The Seahawks have a chance to step in and diffuse the tension for the Steelers or the Bengals. Trading for either pass rusher would likely come at a steep price. A potential deal could include sending Boye Mafe to either team. Mafe, at 26, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and might be part of a package deal that would also involve a high draft pick. The consensus is Seattle might have to include a first-round pick for 2026 but offering more than that could tip the scale unfavorably.
If Seattle pulls the trigger on such a trade, either Watt or Hendrickson could seamlessly blend into head coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive schemes, elevating the team’s already improving unit. Would their addition be enough to propel the Seahawks into the playoffs and beyond? It’s a tantalizing question. Regardless, securing a top-tier edge rusher could be the swing for the fences Seattle needs, one that John Schneider is well known for making.
