The trade deadline is on Tuesday and there are a couple of things to consider based on reporting from today…

Minkah Fitzpatrick should be in play

I’ve been discussing a move for the Dolphins safety for a few weeks, given Julian Love’s absence. Now that it’s been revealed he’s going on injured reserve and will miss at least four games, I think the Seahawks need to consider their options.

Per Mike Florio, Fitzpatrick could be allowed to move on:

“Multiple Dolphins players are in play. One guy to watch, we’re told, is safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was traded from Miami to the Steelers in 2019 and who was traded back to the Dolphins before the season.”

We’ve seen how stretched the Seahawks’ secondary can look against good opponents without Love (see: Tampa Bay). I would cover your bases and look to acquire Fitzpatrick. You don’t want to blow a good season, or a good defense, because you’re too light at key areas. If Miami is holding a fire-sale, I would make a call and see what the price is.

The Dolphins might be ripe for picking. Having fired GM Chris Grier, are they embracing a major rebuild? Are other players at lesser need positions for the Seahawks available, who should be considered purely for the value and opportunity? De’Von Achane or Jaylen Waddle for example?

Are the Seahawks looking for O-line help?

Dianna Russini has joined Jordan Schultz in reporting that the Seahawks are eyeing offensive linemen. Twitter has lurched to thinking this could be a big splash for Peter Skoronski or Jackson Powers-Johnson. I think it’s probably something a lot more modest.

My guess is Kevin Zeitler. It may come down to his level of interest in uprooting and moving to the other end of the country. Yet the Titans’ season is clearly heading in one direction, having already fired their Head Coach. If he wants to go and compete for something this would be an opportunity to do so. He’s traditionally been a solid zone blocker and he’s used to playing on the right side of the line.

The Seahawks showed some interest in Dalton Risner before the season began so they’ve seemingly been open-minded about adding a veteran or upgrading at right guard.

There may be competition though. He was born in Wisconsin and played college football for the Badgers. None of his NFL stops (Cincinnati, Cleveland, New York, Baltimore, Detroit, Tennessee) have been on the west coast. If the Ravens, for example, gave him a call he might prefer that opportunity.

I can’t imagine a big splash is imminent, especially for an offensive lineman. Any team trading away a very good, established O-liner before the deadline would be nuts. It just doesn’t happen.

I am very open to the Seahawks doing something with a hint of aggression though. The 2026 draft class, as I keep saying, doesn’t look good. That doesn’t mean you throw away your picks, obviously. But if there was ever a year to be a little bit aggressive to improve mid-season, this is the one.

Firstly, I made a late impromptu appearance on Real Hawk Talk today with Brian and Jeff, so check it out below:

The other thing I wanted to discuss is a report tonight that McKinnley Jackson, Cincinnati’s former third round pick from 2024, has requested a trade or his release today. He hasn’t been featuring under new defensive coordinator Al Golden.

I really liked aspects of Jackson’s game when he was at Texas A&M. He was physical, tough and clearly the emotional leader on his team. He led all of the pre-game on-field speeches. I liked the way he handled double teams and he played with a strong motor. Jackson wasn’t going to win in any games as a pass-rusher but as a rotational defender, he carried some intrigue.

I ended up dropping him two full rounds (fourth round) after seeing his testing profile. He was neither agile (4.90 shuttle) nor explosive (23-inch vertical). This put a real cap on his ceiling. I had to reassess his role in the NFL — from a potential starter to someone who can mostly be an effective big-body as a run defender.

Even so, I do think his personality would fit this team perfectly. He’s 6-2 and between 320-330lbs. The Seahawks could do with a bit more competition for a player with that body type.

If he ends up being released, I’d be looking to add him to the practise squad for a closer look. I’d even be willing to throw a ham sandwich Cincy’s way to place him on the roster. He has two-and-a-half years left on his rookie deal. Provided you’re willing to accept he is what he is — a highly physical depth piece — I think he’s worth a look.

Before getting into the trade market thoughts, be sure to check out my latest visit with Puck Sports below:

I made a point on the Seahawks Collective this week that I think is worth repeating. The moment an impact guard is traded days before the NFL deadline, will be the first time it happens.

There’s such a dearth of quality offensive linemen in the league that it’s fanciful to think any good player would be dealt. It’s one of the areas you protect at all costs. Whatever stage of the rebuild you’re at, you keep good O-liners. That feels like it should be written in stone.

There’s a reason why only Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller were being linked with moves away. Bitonio is nearing the end having just turned 34. He won’t be a Brown next year. They’re already embracing a youth movement and gathering stock for him would make sense. It’d be a short-term move for any buyer and so far, nobody has bitten. Teller has been a poor pass-protector this year and is also coming to end of his time with the Browns. He turns 31 next month.

Neither player feels like an option for the Seahawks. Bitonio has one total snap at right guard in his long NFL career. Teller is most commonly known in Seattle as the person whose dirty play injured Uchenna Nwosu in a pre-season game. There’s more chance they sign Penn & Teller to play guard than Wyatt Teller.

Are there any other options?

PFF put out an article this week talking about ‘fairytale’ trades. They had the Seahawks acquiring Peter Skoronski. It’s a lovely thought but there’s a reason why the article uses ‘fairytale’ in the title. It’s completely unfeasible.

There’s surely no way in high hell the Titans are going to trade away one of their few good young players whose job it is to protect their investment in Cam Ward. You could make a case that Skoronski is about as untouchable as Ward. There’s zero chance of this year’s #1 overall works out if they trade away a building block offensive lineman tasked with protecting him.

I can’t even imagine what it would take for Tennessee to answer the phone. Two firsts? Maybe a first, a second and a good player? Either way, this isn’t likely for someone who hasn’t played a snap at right guard in his career. The Titans would be absolutely crazy to accept anything less than a massively inflated offer and even that might not be enough.

Jeremy Fowler today mentioned Cesar Ruiz might be available. I was a big fan of Ruiz during his Michigan days. His career has surprisingly under-delivered given his original potential. He ended up moving from center to guard. For a technician with outstanding explosive traits, I thought he was destined for the top. He’s been inconsistently decent, not great.

That might appeal to Seahawks fans and part of me is admittedly curious. Could you get him going? He’s only 26. There’s still time.

It’s worth noting his best zone-blocking season was in the Klint Kubiak system last year. He also played right guard. Yet he only generated a 70.5 grade. He was hardly playing at an elite level in zone. It is better than Anthony Bradford’s current 55.0 grade though.

His base salary is tiny for this season and it’s $9.5m for the following two seasons. That is manageable.

This is a trade that would make some sense — but it comes down to price. You’re not paying a high price for Ruiz. This would have to be a situation where the Saints are in a rebuild mindset and are willing to sell-off assets who aren’t part of the long-term plan. Having used high picks in back-to-back years on Kelvin Banks Jr and Taliese Fuaga, they might feel like they can find fits at guard. Ruiz isn’t playing well this year in their system. It might be a case of everyone preferring a change of scenery.

Are they prepared to do what the Patriots are doing though and cheaply sell off players who don’t fit? The reported demand of a third round price for Rasheed Shaheed suggests they’re more inclined to take the piss and miss out. For a Keion White price, getting Ruiz — who knows the blocking system and has played right guard in it — that would make some sense as a shot to nothing. You’re not giving up a third or fourth rounder though.

Fowler listed a bunch of Saints who could be available. I’d be very interested in linebackers Pete Werner, who I liked at Ohio State, and Demario Davis, who would fit the personality of this team like a glove. I’d be interested in Shaheed and Chris Olave too, just at the right price.

New Orleans feel like the best possible business partner. If they were prepared to sell off Ruiz, Werner and Davis — I’d make a call. I sense, though, they might overplay their hand.

The news today on Julian Love suffering an injury setback also makes you wonder if safety needs to be a position where they bolster. The only safety listed on ESPN’s recent top-25 trade possibilities was Kyle Dugger and he’s already been dealt to the Steelers. I suggested it a few weeks ago and I’d still look into it. Call the Miami Dolphins about Minkah Fitzpatrick.

If you can, please also head over to the YouTube page and like the video and leave a comment!

I’m wary of writing this article because an hour later it’ll look slightly ridiculous if the Seahawks do in fact make a trade. Yet having fully expected some movement, I’m now not so sure.

For the last two years they’ve made a splash. Ernest Jones 12 months ago, Leonard Williams the year prior. Before that the likes of Quandre Diggs and Carlos Dunlap were added.

They may make a smaller deal this year but I’m not sure it’s going to be easy to make a big move.

For starters, it seems like there’s a lot more competition. Pretty much any team with a winning record is being touted as a buyer in the media. It’s possible this has created a stalled market.

If you have a lot of interest in a certain player for example, the selling team is likely to increase the asking price. Yet the kind of business that typically takes place before the deadline is a rental trade — deals done with the potential to be short-term, tempering the value.

You need a realistic seller and a generous buyer. The Seahawks were very aggressive in giving the Giants a second rounder and the Titans a fourth rounder for Williams and Jones. You’re not going to be as aggressive for a lesser talent you don’t envisage re-signing.

We might see some veterans moved on who are expected to be cut in the off-season. Cincinnati’s Logan Wilson is a case in point. The Bengals might as well get anything for him. He isn’t playing well and they’re moving on to two younger linebackers.

Anyone more exciting or impactful though isn’t going to come cheap.

In terms of a selling team, you need someone who is resigned to their fate already this season. It perhaps helps if they’ve recently changed GM too, putting someone in charge who inherited a roster full of players he’s open to parting with.

The Jets and Titans fit this category. However, is there anyone on either roster who would interest the Seahawks?

Tennessee just traded Roger McCreary to the Rams. There’s been talk that anyone not named Cam Ward or Jeffery Simmons is up for sale. It’s hard to imagine who the Seahawks would want on that roster though, especially after cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was placed on injured reserve.

The Jets appear inclined to shift the likes of Jermaine Johnson — a player who wasn’t considered by the Seahawks in round one of the draft and who fell due to perceived character concerns. Breece Hall is another name linked with other teams but the Seahawks don’t need another running back.

Meanwhile another potential seller in the Dolphins won handsomely at the weekend, which, rightly or wrongly, could put a thought in their mind to not have a fire-sale.

The Saints might be your best bet. I’d love to acquire Demarios Davis (one of my favourite players in the NFL) and I’d be open to adding Pete Werner — but is the price-tag realistic? New Orleans reportedly wants a third rounder for Rashid Shaheed. That doesn’t suggest they are prepared to be realistic.

The Bengals might be open to trading Trey Hendrickson after he suffered another hip injury on Sunday, plus the loss to the Jets puts their season into perspective. Yet is he worth spending, say, a second rounder on if he’s now banged up, turning 31 in December and a difficult player to place in the rotation when Derick Hall returns?

Ideally the Seahawks would be able to improve their linebacker or cornerback depth instead but the options appear limited. They clearly want to trade Tariq Woolen — a player who just doesn’t seem to fit Mike Macdonald, whether that’s on the field or off it — but they too might be wary of losing depth for a player who might only bring in a late round flier.

If an aggressive move was available to the Seahawks I would go for it. They are clearly in the mix in a wide-open NFL season. The 2026 draft class is looking mediocre. I’m just not sure if there’s much out there. ESPN’s top-25 trade candidates article didn’t exactly bring up a bunch of tantalising names.

It’s possible I just reverse-jinxed a trade into existence — but I’m less optimistic than I was a couple of weeks ago.

As part of today’s notes, I wanted to share some general ‘horizontal board’ info based on where I’m at. I won’t publish the whole thing for a while but here are some things I do want to post…

— I think the top four players eligible for the 2026 NFL draft are Arvell Reese (LB, Ohio State), Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State), Spencer Fano (T, Utah) and Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame) — in that order. Reese reminds me of Abdul Carter — a freakish athlete with unnatural power who flashes so much as an EDGE rusher and not just as a conventional linebacker. Downs has been one of the top performers in college football for a long time now. Fano is a dominating, tone-setting right tackle and Love is a dynamic weapon who could benefit from Jahmyr Gibbs’ success in Detroit. There’s quite a talent separation between this quartet and the rest at the moment, in my opinion anyway.

— A lot of people have Miami’s Reuben Bain Jr listed as a top-five pick. I have given him a third round grade. There’s talk of him having 30-inch arms and he’s 270lbs on a stocky 6-3 frame. His game is based on power and there’s a lack of twitch on tape. Sure, he’s shown to occasionally win off the edge but we’re not talking about a dynamic speed rusher here. He’s missed 21.3% of his tackles in the last four games and he has three sacks for the year. Ask yourself this — how many short-armed, 6-3/270lbs defensive ends who are better against the run than rushing the passer go very early in round one? Over the years there have been multiple players like this — Boogie Basham, AJ Epenesa and Myles Murphy are three that spring to mind — who the draft media go crazy for and it always feels like a bit of a mirage. I don’t see an X-factor NFL player.

— I currently only have 29 players with grades in the first two rounds. It’s one of the reasons why I would support an aggressive pre-deadline trade by the Seahawks. It would have to be the right player, of course, but this is not a class where I think teams are going to get value. I will obviously add names to this tally as the process goes on (notably post-Senior Bowl and combine) but it’s also possible some of the players I have listed won’t declare.

— Seahawks fans often talk about right guards. I have three right tackles graded highly as guard converts — Duke’s Brian Paker, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa and Iowa’s Gennings Dunker. All three are high-performing zone blockers. If I was doing a mock draft for the Seahawks and wanted to pair a player with them, it could easily be one of these three. Penn State’s left guard Vega Ioane is also one of my favourite players — and a good zone blocker — but he would have to go from the left side to the right which isn’t always a smooth transition.

— I’m not as high on the EDGE rushers. Clemson’s TJ Parker has been a big disappointment and like team-mate Peter Woods, will be relying on older tape and good testing. Romello Height, Jaishawn Barham, Gabe Jacas, Josh Josephs and David Bailey to me all seem like rotational or development players for the next level. The bigger-bodied guys are overrated. I think there’s very little to get excited about with LT Overton at Alabama. Matayo Uiagalelei has flashes but is he going to be a dynamic threat at the next level? Keldric Faulk and Dani Dennis-Sutton have a lot more potential than the others but need to play more consistent, impactful football and finish plays.

— It’s difficult to find cornerbacks at the moment. The big name linebackers look average to me. I’d rather take a chance on crazed, relentless madmen like Cade Uluave than spend a high pick on CJ Allen or Anthony Hill Jr who flatter to deceive. It’s an OK bunch of receivers.

Ty Simpson is the best draft eligible quarterback (part 3)

I’ve been writing about Alabama’s Simpson for a while now, noting why I think he’s a superior prospect at the moment to the likes of Oregon’s Dante Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who’ve been getting all of the media’s attention. Interestingly, Todd McShay today produced a top-32 prospects list and had Simpson as QB1. It’s starting to turn.

Simpson is playing at a fantastic technical level. He isn’t scared to throw over the middle and he delivers NFL-level throws with decisiveness, anticipation and accuracy. He is elevating Alabama and beating good opponents, including on the road, every week. His mentality is as impressive as his talent. The only issue is a lack of starting experience. If he had 30 games under his belt and was playing the way he is, he’d be widely considered the favourite to be the #1 pick. Teams are going to have to weigh up what they’re seeing and whether they care about his inexperience.

Let’s look at some plays against Tennessee. In this first clip, the left guard is beaten way too easily off the snap creating early pressure. Simpson is already having to pass from his own endzone. No problem:

Look at the level of poise and calm he has dealing with this situation. I want to share a screen-grab from that video:

When I took this picture, Simpson has already felt the pressure and adjusted his position because of it. Then, with two defenders closing in, look what he’s doing. He’s not panicking or trying to desperately scramble. He’s looking upwards and scanning the field. He sees a target, subtly side-steps to his left to buy an extra split-second in the pocket, then delivers a strike over the middle.

By the way, this play was a 3rd and 13 and he converts it for a first down.

This is next-level quarterback play. There are current pro’s in the NFL who would’ve absolutely shat themselves in that situation. This is Simpson putting his team on his back, dealing with a difficult situation and getting the job done.

Next clip. This one is about ball placement. He’s being asked to throw from the middle of the field to the right sideline to a tight spot, 36-yards downfield. It’s a great catch by the receiver but the ball is placed right where it needs to be, giving the receiver or no-one a chance to get it. The ball is also delivered with good velocity and loft:

I’ve spoken in the past how I’ve had conversations with people in the league who say they only watch every third down a quarterback makes before determining whether they’ll watch anything else. Simpson excels in that area. Look at this absolute bullet that should’ve been caught over the middle. This is a NFL throw:

Can you see the Shanahan/McVay tree coaches admiring this kind of throw off play-action?

 
These are what NFL-level throws in college football look like:

Another week of Ty Simpson putting NFL-level throws on tape. Love his poise, confidence, placement.

Simpson belongs in the conversation for QB1. pic.twitter.com/rFvanKvtdV

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) October 20, 2025

He did have one really bad decision on Saturday, throwing back inside across his body into traffic. He was lucky not to be picked off — and that’s perhaps where his inexperience shows. Yet he then ran the subsequent 4th and 2 for a conversion on the next play, scrambling to the right and evading defenders.

Since the week one disappointment against Florida State, Simpson’s QBR is 87.9. He’s scored 20 total touchdowns compared to only one interception. He’s won games against Georgia and Missouri on the road, also beating Vanderbilt and Tennessee at home.

He should be the Heisman favourite. He is QB1. He absolutely looks the part and if he keeps performing and Alabama keep winning, we’re going to hear a lot more about him.

A final note on Alabama. I’ve long thought linebacker Deontae Lawson was extremely overrated and was shocked to see some people still referring to him as a possible high draft pick. To me he’s stiff, not physical enough, too easy to block and he shows questionable effort at times.

Look at how he dealt with this touchdown on Saturday — from the bad angle to giving up on the play far too early and not hustling to make a last ditch tackle. He’s wearing #0. You can’t win with this:

I wouldn’t draft him — and it might be worth noting the people suggesting he’s destined to go early because that feels like a terrible take.

Carnell Tate is a lot better than I originally thought

The Ohio State receiver has taken his game to another level in recent weeks. There are so many things to like. He’s catching away from his body, he has superb body control and can hang in the air while contorting to make difficult grabs, his ball-tracking is superb, he appears to have a high degree of field IQ like most of the Ohio State receivers and he’s very reliable with zero tallied drops so far in 2025. His route running is impressive and he knows how to get open.

Tate lines up almost exclusively outside and while there’s little in the way of YAC — he is averaging 17.3 yards a catch. Four of his six touchdowns so far have been on passes beyond 20-yards.

I’m not sure on his pure long speed and that might be a thing that tempers his stock somewhat. However, the league is littered with highly productive receivers at the moment who aren’t ‘speed demons’. Tate is a cultured, talented, natural receiver.

Here’s what he did against Wisconsin on Saturday:

With the 2026 draft class playing out as it is, it wouldn’t be a shock if he ended up going in the top-20. With Chris Brazell II fading somewhat after an electric start, the fight to be WR1 appears to be between Tate and USC’s Makai Lemon.

Arkansas running back Mike Washington looks really good

I wrote about him last week but couldn’t resist a follow up today. What an impressive player and pre-testing, I’m giving him a second round grade at the moment. He’s a 220lbs back who shows great burst and decisiveness to shoot through openings and acclerate. Washington changes direction well and he finishes runs. He has a gliding quality to his running style but it’s not often you see this on such a physical runner.

Here’s a couple of clips from the Texas A&M game on Saturday:

Washington has 404 yards after contact this season, more than Jonah Coleman and Kaytron Allen. I’d argue he’s had limited opportunity to shine too — Arkansas have often been behind or having to deal with shoot-out games where the running attack has had to take a back-seat.

He’s been one of my favourite players to watch so far this year.

On top of Washington and Arkansas’ talented quarterback Taylen Green, I’ve also been impressed with receiver O’Mega Blake. He has strong hands, he’s also a finisher when he’s running after the catch. For 2025 he has 582 yards and four TD’s so far. He’s an outside receiver with decent size (6-2, 190lbs) and he only has two drops for the year. He excels in mid-to-short range situations and could be good for a system like Seattle’s. He does produce YAC and he’s a very competitive, aggressive player. I’ve given him a third round grade but he could last into day three and provide some value.

Other quarterback notes

I thought Oregon’s Dante Moore had a much better performance against Rutgers than he did against Indiana. He showed off natural gifts including some fantastic layered throws, deep shots and ‘make it look easy’ throws to dissect coverage. This was a performance more worthy of the hype he’s been receiving.

I do think Rutgers were absolutely horrendous though — evidenced by the final score (56-10) and their coverage and pressure combinations were appalling. Their tackling was also garbage. On the penultimate Oregon touchdown, three defenders seemed to be running away from the running back as he sprinted to the end-zone, not towards him. It was like playing Madden on easy mode for Oregon. Even so, Moore flashed some nice plays and showed off his potential.

USF’s Byrum Brown is built like a tank and he’s a forceful runner and capable passer. He can throw with touch but also make explosive plays on the move. There’s potential here to work with.

Oklahoma blitzed a lot against South Carolina and LaNorris Sellers really didn’t handle it well. Too often he felt the pressure and set off running. He looked flustered and had no way of combatting with quick hot throws. The offense looks awful and needs to help him — but Sellers looked the total opposite of Simpson in terms of composure under pressure.

Meanwhile, I continue to be impressed with Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Holton. He’s powerful, shows some agility, he’s undersized but disruptive and had a great sack bullying his way past two blocks to sack Sellers. He could provide some solid mid-round value.

I really like the playing style of Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt. He can get the ball downfield on the run, he’s creative, has a better arm than expected and there’s just something about him I like.

The same can’t be said for Carson Beck. I’ve no idea why some people were still calling him a round one type player. He just can’t help but throw terrible, lousy interceptions. He did it throughout last season and now it’s happening again.

He had four official interceptions against Louisville and had another nullified on a penalty. After the game he blamed his receiver on one pick for running the wrong route, yet he still threw the ball and should’ve owned it.

Here are the first two picks:

Carson Beck’s 2 INTs pic.twitter.com/1yv9q4ZuLb

— Follow: @fsh733 (@fsh733) October 18, 2025

This is the third:

Carson Beck Just slanging them picks!!! pic.twitter.com/lTUglboN7C

— Cardinal Companion (@CardsCompanion) October 18, 2025

And now the fourth. Compare how Ty Simpson handles pressure to this:

Carson Beck back-foot fadeaway INT’s are back like they never left.

Glad to see some things never change.pic.twitter.com/GsdUtVpXTI

— Gabe Kuhn (@G_Kuhn71) October 18, 2025

I wouldn’t draft Beck. If he’s throwing so many picks in college, how does that change and improve at the next level? He’s playing for Georgia and Miami too — hardly overmatched smaller schools with no supporting cast.

Since taking Brock Bowers off him in his first year as a starter, he’s been pretty much exposed as a turnover machine.

Hi all — please check out my latest Bump & Stacy appearance below. If you can like the video on YouTube and leave a comment it’d be massively appreciated!

I’ll keep this short because it’s gone 7am and I need sleep.

It’s very pleasing the Seahawks won, especially at home, improving their record to 5-2. No team has a superior record in the NFC and they pulled level with the 49ers and Rams in the NFC West, which is really important.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Leonard Williams were again outstanding. Nick Emmanwori’s promising start to his career continued. The defense, by and large, were smothering and dominant. They gave CJ Stroud no time to settle and he looked flustered all night. I can’t wait to see how many pressures they tallied.

Third and fourth down defense was elite — as was the run defense.

However, there are things that put me on a downer as this game concluded. Once again, the Seahawks got in their own way. This has been a weekly trend with the exception of the Saints blowout. They make individual mistakes, questionable play-calling decisions and seem incapable of managing a game properly for 60 minutes.

The sequence that turned 14-0 (and should’ve been 21-0 but for Drake Thomas’ fumble) into 14-6 at half-time was frustrating enough. That they came out in the second half and turned the ball over three times, continued to throw when the situation called for runs and did everything to give the Texans a chance to get back into it was maddening.

We’ve gone from the pointless Jalen Milroe package to now asking Cooper Kupp to throw the ball on trick plays instead. Resist the trick play. Just run your offense. You’re good.

There were also clusters of individual mistakes, including Anthony Bradford penalties, Charles Cross getting beat off the edge, the turnovers and Josh Jobe dropping two interceptions.

They need to fix these issues during the bye. They need a better plan to finish games when they are winning in the fourth quarter. They need to stop getting tricky and cute with their play-calling.

They need to get out of their own bloody way.

Achieve this and they can be a serious contender. If they don’t fix the problems, they’ll drop important games in the coming weeks they have no business losing. That will be massively frustrating when the NFL is wide-open this year and a great opportunity is seemingly emerging.

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

This season, as much as any other, there are few clear answers in the NFL.  Admittedly, six weeks in the league’s hierarchy of teams is rarely fully defined.

But this year, the unpredictable nature of the NFL has vastly been pushed into the forefront.

Traditional NFL powers like Baltimore, Kansas City, Buffalo and Philadelphia have looked sluggish and handcuffed by injuries at times.  Indianapolis and Tampa Bay have the best records in the NFL and upstarts like New England, Chicago and Carolina appear like they will either be factors or spoilers by the time the playoffs come around.

It’s been a strange season so far.

It is in this landscape that I present to you maybe the NFL’s biggest enigma:  The Seahawks’ opponent tonight, the Houston Texans.

They stand at 2-3, having clearly beaten inferior teams Tennessee and one half of the Baltimore Ravens and losing to the superior Rams, Bucs, Jaguars.  Yet they sport a top-ten +47-point differential, due to only losing by a combined thirteen points in their three losses.

They have one of the NFL’s top defenses, with top-quality players at all three levels, but year to date they have only generated twelve sacks and an 18% pressure rate on opposing quarterbacks, which are bottom-ten numbers.  They also have seven defenders in the bottom 100 of the NFL in tackling efficiency, more than any other team except Cincinnati.

Nothing about their current offense is special, especially their offensive line.  And yet CJ Stroud is not constantly under duress, and he and Nico Collins are one of the most connected duos in the NFL and can turn the game on its head quickly.

This is typically a game where you would feel comfortable with projecting a Seahawks win.  But this can turn into a game at any moment, depending on which Texans team shows up.

How can the Seahawks take control of this game and head into their bye week 5-2?

Play a Clean Game and Win with Defense

Houston is a well-coached team.  They are +1 in turnover ratio, better than the Seahawks, who sit at -1 currently.  They have only lost two fumbles, and the Seahawks are the only team in the NFL without a fumble recovery on defense.

Like the Seahawks, they are disciplined and do not take many penalties.

Their opponents start drives on average at the 25-yard line, best in the NFL.

They have not been a team that regularly helps their opponents win by making mistakes.  Cheap points will likely not be easy to come by.

The margins are slimmer to be sure.  But the Seahawks hold a sizeable advantage in talent and their track record of game play is more consistent than Houston’s.  If they are able to play smart, well-coached football, they should be able to have a comfortable handle on this game.

The Seahawks defense vs the Texans offense is where they have their biggest advantage.  If they can make a clear statement and keep the field-position and time-of-possession game in their favor, it would greatly assist the offense to score some points of the easier variety.  An extreme example of this was the Raiders-Chiefs disaster of a game yesterday.  The Chiefs sustained long drives on offense and kept the Raiders from gaining any momentum on offense.  Whenever the Raiders started making progress, the Chiefs defenders would win at the point of attack and either move Geno Smith out of his spot or force a holding penalty on the Raiders to kill drives.  The Raiders responded by constantly ignoring the run game and passing at will, which enabled Kansas City to tee off on the offense and it just enflamed the situation.

Win the Trenches and Spread the Ball Around

With respect to the Rams and Bucs, the Texans have not faced a defensive line as deep and talented as Seattle’s.  They can get pressure with just their standard base package, and with stunts and the occasional blitz mixed in, the Seahawks should be able to control the line of scrimmage on defense.  Houston’s line is not the horror show we saw last season or early this season (especially after they finally benched old friend Laken Tomlinson).  But up and down the line, you can see spots for the defense to attack.

Aireontae Ersery at Left Tackle is starting as a rookie.  While he has great measurables and looks like he might be their starter for years to come, he is still feeling his way in the NFL and has given up four sacks in five games already.  Uchenna Nwosu and Boye Mafe should get plenty of chances to put pressure on C.J. Stroud from the blind side.  Tytus Howard on the right side is going to have his hands full with Demarcus Lawrence and Leonard Williams.

But the real matchup that could define game is in the interior.  Jake Andrews, Juice Scruggs and Ed Ingram are reminiscent of some of the interiors the Seahawks have run out in recent years that have given fans fits.  While they have their occasional wins (Ingram is well-graded by PFF for what it is worth), this is where the Seahawks need to earn their money.  Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams will provide a clear mismatch and should regularly push the pocket into Stroud’s lap and keep the second level of the defense clean.

Allowing the linebackers and safeties free reign to do their jobs will be a critical part of this game.  Houston’s running game has been nothing to write home about this year, being about league average.  Nick Chubb’s first down conversion rate is below his career norm, and Stroud is right behind him in rushing first downs.

Also, Dalton Schultz could be a challenge for the Seahawks.  With Christian Kirk out, Stroud will have one less pro-grade weapon in the passing game.  Schultz is a player that is solid in running routes but also functions well as a dump-off safety valve when the pressure gets to be too much and he is effective at turning a three-yard completion into a catch and run for a first down.  He is a Tight End but runs routes and motions like a Wide Receiver to get his best matchup.  The Seahawks have had trouble defending Tight Ends but with Nick Emmanwori and Devon Witherspoon back, this could be another game-defining matchup.  Without a fair number of yards after the catch, it could force Stroud to make deeper passes than he is comfortable with and that will give the pass rush a chance to really pin their ears back and get after him.

On the flip side, it might be fair to say that Will Anderson Jr and Danielle Hunter will be the best edge duo the Seahawks face this year.  Charles Cross can really put a stamp on a relatively solid season by keeping Sam Darnold clean.  And Abe Lucas will need to return to his best form to keep either of these players from wrecking the game.

Do the Seahawks need to specifically alter their game plan to combat these two monsters?  To a degree they will.  No doubt they will run Twelve Personnel and occasionally have A.J. Barner or Eric Saubert chipping on one side and then releasing to a route or staying home as a safety valve option for Sam Darnold.

However, here is where the beauty of the Klint Kubiak offense comes in.  Darnold has been so quick, so accurate that he gets rid of the ball before the pass rush can get home.  Anything short of a complete whiff by blockers and more often than not, he gets the ball out.  It is true that overall, the Offensive Line is performing better than in previous seasons, but it is also just as much due to the design of the offense and the razor-sharp effectiveness in which Darnold runs it.

Winning on offense and defense is not just about scheme but about matching up on individual sequences and timing.  A fine effort by the pass rushers could be spoiled by a well-chosen pass or a run that goes right through the gaps they just vacated.  Kubiak will need that kind of timing and cleverness with his calls tonight.

Derek Stingley is one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, and no doubt he will see a lot of snaps across from Jaxon Smith-Njigba.  There is no reason to avoid throwing at Stingley though.  Smith-Njigba is performing at such a high level and has such chemistry with Sam Darnold, there should be no hesitance to try and win with the formula that has been working so well.  He is far and away the most-targeted Receiver for the Seahawks and that should not change.

However, spreading the ball around helps keep the defense honest and the Seahawks have so many weapons, the Texans could struggle to contain them all.  A.J. Barner has proven to be so much more than the blocking Tight End that we all thought we were getting when he was drafted.  He has turned into a real option in the passing game and just when the defense thinks they have the main threats locked in on a play, bam, Darnold finds Barner for a back-breaking play.

I also think this could be a game where Elijah Arroyo and Tory Horton could play a similar role.  More than once this season, we have seen the play designs that overwhelm the defense and draw coverages away from that third or fourth receiver option and he is wide open, waiting to be exploited.

In studying the tape, one area where the Texans can be vulnerable is the quick slant and in-breaking route that the Seahawks are so effective in.   Baker Mayfield went to that well time and time again in Week 2 against them.  And while he only logged 191 passing yards, he was very effective at keeping the pace of the game in the Bucs’ favor.  Cooper Kupp and Smith-Njigba have developed excellent chemistry with Darnold, and it can be a bread-and-butter type play to set up deeper shots later in the game.

I don’t think you can ever invest too much in the quarterback position. It’s the most significant individual position in sport.

The Seahawks appear set. Sam Darnold is playing very well. He’s only 28-years-old and could be the answer for the immediate future. On top of that, they clearly like Drew Lock as a backup (he only turns 29 next month) and they recently used a third round pick on Jalen Milroe.

However, I don’t think this should prevent the Seahawks looking at the 2026 class. If there’s a player worthy of a pick, I think you have to consider it. Things change quickly in the NFL. Look at the Eagles as a good example of this. Carson Wentz went from MVP candidate, to watching Nick Foles win a Super Bowl, to being benched for Jalen Hurts and then bouncing around the league.

If you see a player who could be a potential franchise quarterback, you have to take that player seriously as an investment.

The more I watch of Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green I think he should be someone of interest who I would consider if I were the Seahawks. He’s an excellent talent with exciting pro-potential. I think draft media is sleeping on Green but I’m pretty certain the league isn’t. He has a very good chance to be a top-60 pick next year.

The Razorbacks are having a challenging season. They’ve fired their coach. They are 2-5 and winless in the SEC. Every time I’ve watched them this year I expect to see Green struggle. Yet even when they’ve been blown out (Notre Dame) I haven’t come away with a negative impression of their quarterback. Instead, the positives are striking.

He’s listed at 6-6 and 224lbs. He runs like a gazelle. His long strides chew up yards quickly and when he gets a crease and an opportunity to run, he’s difficult to bring down. His running style is reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick’s.

Green doesn’t just use his legs to run for gains though. He’s elusive and able to scramble away from heavy pressure to extend plays. He’s faced a lot of pressure this season and been forced to improvise.

Many quarterbacks who are strong runners rely on it so much that they’re often not the most technically accomplished passers. Green is very capable. He’s not Ty Simpson from the pocket but nobody else is in college football. There’s ample evidence of him attacking the middle of the field, delivering with poise from the pocket, going through progressions and running pro-concepts.

For the season he has 23 total touchdowns and five interceptions in seven games. He’s an experienced player who turned 23 on Saturday. He has 42 career starts in college, having previously played for Boise State before transferring.

Have a look at his highlights against Texas A&M yesterday:

 
The video is a snapshot of what he is. Let’s run through the plays:

— An improvised run starting off with a great little side-step to break contain and then make a +30 yard gain look easy

— A really decisive shot over the middle on 3rd and 9 with no wasted time for a conversion (so many college quarterbacks throw late on key downs)

— Touch throw over the middle and while the tight end is clearly very open, the pass is delivered with some layering

— Big time scramble for a touchdown — the kind of play opponents have to account for every down and in particular within range of the end zone

— Hugely creative play scrambling away from two separate pressures to extend, re-setting his eyes to the end-zone rather than continuing to scramble, then with an awkward body angle still generating ideal velocity on an inch-perfect red-zone pass for a touchdown with a tight-window throw — outstanding elusiveness and playmaking

— On 3rd and 6 he scrambles away from pressure and extends to the outside and then while moving to his left, still generates great velocity and accuracy despite the awkward angle to convert on the move with two defenders right in his face

— An example of decisiveness and his ability to snap, set, throw to the right receiver and fit throws into traffic

— Under-center red-zone concept, very much a pro-style touchdown pass

— Crazy, magical scramble where he goes from his own goal-line on fourth down with the game on the line and runs all the way to the Texas A&M 37-yard line

His QBR for the season is 90.9. Let’s compare that to some recent highly drafted quarterbacks:

Jayden Daniels — 95.6
Joe Burrow — 94.5
Bo Nix — 91.2
Taylen Green — 90.9
CJ Stroud — 88.9
Cam Ward — 88.7
Jaxson Dart — 86.3

Green is also well above the rest of college football when it comes to EPA. He’s at 63.5 and no other quarterback has an EPA above 60. Fernando Mendoza’s EPA is 42.4, Ty Simpson’s at 39.9 and Dante Moore is at 30.0.

Analytically and in terms of what you see on tape it makes for an exciting package.

Scouting quarterbacks is all about projection and there are plenty of reasons why physically gifted players don’t work out in the NFL. Sometimes it’s simply being drafted by teams like the Jets or Titans. Likewise, players with physical limitations but technical competency end up with Kyle Shanahan and play better than they would anywhere else.

It’s still important to look for players who can do special things. Green can do special things. He’s a dynamite athlete with amazing size and speed who can make massive gains on the run. He’s a defensive nightmare to game-plan for in the week. Yet despite all of this, there are enough examples of him operating from the pocket and delivering with poise, anticipation and accuracy without relying on table-setting play-calls.

To go back to the Kaepernick comparison — I think he’s basically the same athlete but a far more technical passer of the football. To me that makes him very, very interesting.

I’m surprised he isn’t talked about more. Perhaps it’s because Arkansas are struggling as much as they are, which shouldn’t reflect on him. Their defense is a disaster zone. They’ve lost games where the offense has scored 35 against Ole Miss, 31 against Memphis, 31 against Tennessee and 42 against Texas A&M. The defense is why they’re 2-5.

I suspect as the process goes along, eventually Green will rise from a media perspective when people hear what the league thinks of him. In terms of draft eligible quarterbacks, he might be the best combination of tools, talent, experience and upside. Alabama’s Simpson is the most impressive quarterback but he’s started fewer than 10 games.

Even with the Seahawks seemingly finding a quality starter in Darnold, I would keep investing in this position if the situation allows. It doesn’t mean going out of your way to avoid other more needy positions if good players are available in those areas. Yet the Eagles were derided for their decision to draft Hurts with the 53rd pick in 2020. That worked out OK — and it shows you should always have an eye on the position.