The Seahawks' Quiet Offseason: Why Seattle Isn't Making Waves Like the Rest of the NFL
While the NFL free agency frenzy is in full swing with over 60 major signings and trades already hitting the market, there's one thing Seattle fans are probably noticing: the Seahawks have been remarkably low-key so far. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's definitely worth asking what Mike Macdonald and Brian Fleury are thinking as teams around the league are making aggressive moves.
The Backup QB Trade That Started It All
The offseason got rolling with the Panthers and Eagles swapping Andy Dalton for a 2027 seventh-round pick. It's a relatively straightforward backup quarterback trade, but here's the thing: it raises a bigger question about what other QB moves might be coming. When you start seeing backup quarterbacks moving around, it usually means teams are getting creative with their roster construction. For Sam Darnold and the Seahawks, this is all the noise in the background while Seattle focuses on its own blueprint.
How ESPN Is Grading Every Move
ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder is evaluating all these deals using multiple factors: on-field impact, salary cap implications, compensation, player value and age, and context for both short-term and long-term outlooks. Basically, he's asking whether each move actually moves the needle for a team's Super Bowl chances. For each deal, the grades so far have been all over the map. The Panthers and Eagles both got a B for the Dalton swap, which tells you something: backup quarterback trades are stabilizing moves, not game-changers.
What This Means for the Emerald City
With Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp leading the receiving corps, and Sam Darnold under center, Seattle's core is set at the key skill positions. The question now is whether the Seahawks will be bold like some other teams or patient with their approach. Either way, the free agency period is still early, and there's plenty of time for Seattle to make its own splash.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.