Adam Schefter was on with Pat McAfee this morning.

It was… interesting…

Here’s the line he used on the Seahawks:

“Seattle is interesting. Something is going on in Seattle. Seattle would be a team to watch.”

The way this is phrased is a lot more revealing, I’d argue, than merely suggesting the Seahawks are ringing around to see what’s out there.

This follows Jay Glazer reporting on Sunday that the Seahawks were being aggressive in the trade market. In the last 24 hours, suddenly this is the team being singled out to keep an eye on.

Schefter’s face above is a picture. It’s the face of somebody who knows something.

Truth be told, he probably does.

ESPN’s top NFL insider published a report on Saturday noting Seattle was receiving interest in Boye Mafe and Riq Woolen. It was a quid-pro-quo report. This was Schefter doing the Seahawks a solid, getting those two names out there. If/when the Seahawks make a trade before the deadline, the chances are Schefter will be rewarded by being the first to receive a text confirming the news.

It won’t be a surprise, given Schefter’s connections, if he knows who the Seahawks are targeting. My guess is it’s a top pass rusher. That doesn’t mean they’ll pull something off — but I’m guessing they’re trying especially hard to get something done.

Firstly, the willingness to part with Mafe (and they clearly are if his name is being dangled in the media). You aren’t going to reduce your pass rush depth for the sake of it. To me it feels like they’re looking to upgrade that spot.

I think this is the situation:

— They possibly want to trade Mafe first or have an agreement at the same time as they add a player, in order to make sure they’re not left short

— Trading Mafe gives them extra stock to use in an additional deal for a replacement/upgrade

— If they make a big splash making Mafe expendable, it could be harder to get maximum value if you then try and sell him

Secondly, a perfect storm could be being created here. The Bengals might be more prepared to part with Trey Hendrickson after losing again on Sunday. The Raiders, who also lost again, might be at least willing to entertain offers for Maxx Crosby. Are the Browns now fully embracing their youth movement which could make Myles Garrett finally available?

Meanwhile, the Seahawks are working into serious contention. They have more cap space available than most teams (this year and next). The 2026 draft class is seriously lacking top-end talent and depth. If there was ever year a to make a late splash, this is it.

Yahoo Sports reporters Jori Epstein and Charles Robinson wrote an interesting piece a few days ago.

Here’s Epstein on Crosby potentially being available:

An NFC talent evaluator from another team didn’t think the door was closed.

“I still think for the right price, Crosby could be on the move,” the evaluator said. “First and a pick swap, most likely.”

Robinson added:

Don’t expect a Maxx Crosby trade surprise unless Crosby asks for it, which I’ve been told he hasn’t done.

Is it possible Crosby will make that request late in the day? Is Epstein’s source correct, that a deal could still be on the cards for a Raiders team clearly caught between a needed long-term build and trying to win quickly with an older coach and quarterback?

Now here’s Robinson on Garrett potentially being moved:

I’ve had two high-ranking personnel sources tell me Roseman would give up a significant bounty if the Browns were to make Myles Garrett available. It feels a little like other personnel departments are dreamcasting a bit and guessing what Roseman might do, but there’s definitely a sense that the Eagles could be the one team that comes out of nowhere to pull a big deal for a defensive player. Dot-connecting is going to speculate that player to be Trey Hendrickson, but if Roseman would genuinely be willing to give up the farm for a player like Garrett, nobody is off the table. I wouldn’t rule out a Jaelan Phillips or Bradley Chubb pursuit.

The Eagles did indeed trade for Phillips today, potentially taking a big bold push off the table. What if it’s the Seahawks instead who are prepared to ‘give up the farm’?

Let me be clear — I’m not predicting either player gets traded anywhere, let alone Seattle. Big shocking trades don’t happen… until they do (see: Micah Parsons). I’m just saying, there’s a lot of buzz all of sudden surrounding the Seahawks before the trade deadline from the top insiders in the sport. I don’t think that would be the case if they’re imminently going to acquire the 2025 equivalent of Trevis Gipson for a conditional sixth rounder.

I just wonder if this team is sensing an opportunity in the NFC and believe acquiring someone like Garrett or Crosby at a massive cost (or Hendrickson at a slightly smaller price) might be worth it.

Financially the Raiders can easily trade Crosby. The dead cap-hit is $5m this year and $5m next year. Las Vegas would save a considerable sum of money by dealing him. With Garrett it’s different. The Browns would take on $20m in dead money this year and $40m next year.

The Browns would need a massive offer to consider that kind of write-off. However, look at what the Dolphins did today. They ate $6m to get a better pick from the Eagles for Phillips. If a third rounder costs $6m, could a package of picks add up to the value of $60m? It’s not unrealistic, especially with the Browns showing their inclination to go young on their roster.

What about Seattle’s finances? In Schefter’s report at the weekend, he suggested the feeling is that the Seahawks want to pay Charles Cross, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon next year. That makes it harder to give money to anyone else up front for big, guaranteed contracts. There’s not an endless supply of cash for the Seahawks to do multiple mega deals in one calendar year after all (cash and cap-space are different things).

If you trade for Garrett or Crosby, that isn’t a problem. They are under contract until 2030 and 2029 respectively. You will take on their annual salaries but you’re not going to have to put money in escrow to sign them. Provided you can fit their cap-hits into your plan — and they easily can — it’s a major bonus for a team in Seattle’s position that both players received extensions this year.

A move like this would firmly put the Seahawks in a Super Bowl window. I’d fully support it after putting in extensive work studying the 2026 draft class. If there was ever a year to create shockwaves in the NFL, this is it.

I think Schefter knows who they’re going after. Let’s see if they get it done.

If you missed my stream discussing the trade deadline with Jeff Simmons, check it out below: