John Schneider‘s GM tenure has seen plenty of trades involving first-round picks. Although the GM has stayed in his first-round draft slot(s) in each of the past three years, the two-time Super Bowl winner has a history of trading out of his top draft position.
Seattle has traded four first-round picks for veterans during Schneider’s 16-draft GM run, acquiring Percy Harvin (2013), Jimmy Graham (2015) and Jamal Adams (2020). Schneider has traded down from his first-round position in six other drafts. In three of those drafts, Schneider has traded down at least twice from his first-round draft slot. Although the results of this process have not always panned out — with some unremarkable returns forming in Rounds 1 and 2 in several Seattle drafts — Schneider has a pattern. Back at the mountaintop, the Seahawks are aiming to return to their Round 1 M.O.
[RELATED: Traded Draft Picks For 2026]
Schneider said it is “no secret” (via The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar) the team is looking to trade down from No. 32. The Seahawks hold just four selections in this draft — Nos. 32, 64, 96 and 188. Two of Seattle’s picks went to New Orleans for the since-re-signed Rashid Shaheed. No team enters this draft with fewer selections than the defending champions.
The Seahawks will be willing to trade the No. 32 pick to an NFC West rival, Schneider added (via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson). The Seahawks have done so in the past, moving down in 2017 to allow the 49ers to select linebacker Reuben Foster. There have been 35 intra-divisional draft trades since 2002, per Henderson. That Foster-based swap was the only Schneider-era Seattle pick flip inside the NFC West.
“We’ve talked within our division,” Schneider said. “That was kind of frowned upon for a while, like you don’t trade within your division. Everybody in our division, we would trade with. We have good relationships with all three of those teams. You’re maneuvering around the board to try to help your team no matter what. So, when you look at it through that lens, you’re basically not concerned about [helping another team].”
Seattle’s decisions to stay in its draft slot recently have paid dividends. The team held onto its Broncos-obtained No. 9 pick in 2022, selecting Charles Cross. Denver’s other pick sent in the Russell Wilson trade — No. 5 overall in 2023 — gave Seattle Devon Witherspoon. The Seahawks’ own 2023 selection became Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and they did not move down to select either Byron Murphy or Grey Zabel over the past two years.
The Seahawks’ No. 32 pick could conceivably be a gateway for the Cardinals to climb up for Ty Simpson and pick up a fifth-year option on the polarizing QB prospect, though it is certainly possible Arizona would need to move higher than 32 for the Alabama passer. Other teams could be calling by then, perhaps if one of the tackles falls to the end of Round 1, but this is not viewed as a particularly strong draft. That could lead Seattle to stay at No. 32 and perhaps trade down in Rounds 2 or 3 to add to its four-pick total.
Maybe they feel a QB needy team will trade up for Simpson. Could get a haul potentially.
I’m guessing that the goal is simply to acquire more picks. That is something that John Schneider has done quite often during his Tenure as G.M.
It depends what you mean by a haul, I guess. Giants got pick #25 last year and it cost them #34, #99, and this year’s 3rd (which ended up being #69). The return for #32 would be less than that, especially since Simpson is not as regarded as Dart was.
Maybe a 2nd and two 4ths? A 2nd and a 3rd? It depends on the positioning of those picks, obviously.
I was told it was the stupiest post on another site when I said we should trade our 32nd pick to Arizona for their 1st next year. We will have an extra 1 to add with our 1 and maybe the year after to move up and get a QB.
I also said Milroe might be an issue. He was supposed to run all these Wildcat snaps and some at WR and RB. We saw him for 4 or 5 games then nothing. His plays usually ended up a disaster. So I said they maybe are not as high on him anymore.
I got told you don’t throw a rookie in at QB and watch him struggle. Never said that. Also we have Sam for 3 more years. Never debated that. Besides being called stupid one guy said we have won 2S Bs in last 20 years. We have also been a playoff team for most of the dates in between all without a first rnd QB. We got Wilson in the 3rd.
Their arguments were not even things I said. But I still stand by my comment. This is a bad draft trade to get better position in next years that is good not only in QB but other positions as well. We have to see players get hurt and ones you think might come out stay in because of NIL money.
Anyway I stand by my thought trade away this pick and 1 or 2 more for next years draft and position yourself into being able to get a good QB. Besides Arizona will suck again next year and we will get a top 10 pick and maybe not have to trade both. Wouldn’t an 8 and 32 be great next year?
Well, if you go to an online forum and don’t get insulted you should be very suspicious about it’s authenticity. I’d rather be called stupid by a real person than get an upvote from some AI bot.
I’m pretty certain Arizona wouldn’t trade their #1 next year for the 32nd pick this year…especially since they are picking #34 this year too.
A pick at 32 gives the team a fifth year option. 34 doesn’t do that. Its very possible they could get AZ 34 and a later round pick at that point.
Yes, I do agree that they’d be a good candidate to move from 34 to 32…but I was understanding it that you were thinking that AZ would give up their 1st round pick next year for the 32 spot this year (and keep the 34 pick). They would not do that.
It doesn’t really matter what else they could get. Trading a 2027 1st for the rights to draft Simpson at 32 would be terrible business.
I did say they would add other picks for next years 1. Maybe a 2 but preferably a 3. I am not up on the value of trades. I think a lot depends.on how well they think they will do next year.
They seem to think they will be good. With 3 of the top teams next year in their Div it will be tough for them to have a great record. They will have probably 5 losses if not 6 in Div. I would say the absolute best they could do is 12-5. That won’t happen. They believe they have the team be 12-5 or better. In reality it might be closer to the opposite.
If they truly believe they will be drafting later in the draft they might not be so possessive of that pick. Also and more importantly if the last few picks have already been traded they may be more inclined. I am not saying this is guaranteed it is just a wish. The Cardinals are not known to make the best decisions.
They have not made the best decisions, true, but Ossenfort doesn’t seem to be the kind of guy who just parts with picks. I can’t see a scenario in which they give up a 1 for Simpson, no matter what else they get back. Those 2027 1s are very valuable right now.
Who knows I was just saying what the numbers were saying. I would love it if we were sitting there with the last first round pick and they had to take our offer. That is the only way we get their 1st next year. Then play hardball and get a day 2or 3 this year. If they trade the pick we won’t be sitting thinking what kind of pick was that? It seems that is popular after John picks. Then the pick is one of the best in the draft. He comes up with head scratchers that turn out great. I am excited to see his magic tonight.
There aren’t many teams, given the supposed drop off in talent in the draft talent this year, who seem likely to bite. I wonder about Arizona. At first glance, it seems unlikely, given that the Cards possess the 34th pick. However, I can see a scenario where Arizona moves up to 32 to get a fifth year option, and trades down from 34 (if they still have it). It seems very likely to me that they want Simpson, but don’t want to take him too highly. Would they move back from 3 for picks, and then up to 32 for a fifth year option on a QB? Could be. I’ve voiced my concern for my expectation of Simpson’s uphill battle in the desert, but the Cardinals seem to be planning to try and take him. Employing (or trying to employ, in Brissett’s case) two bridge veterans, hiring an offensive system type coach, and casting off Murray this year all point to AZ wanting a QB now. If Simpson is still on the board at 32, does Arizona pull the trigger for that 5th year option? We’ll see.
It could end up being another team, of course. Other than Simpson, though, it’s hard to see a team give up much to jump back into the first for a non-QB this year. Perhaps in a deeper first round they would. And, of course, these “thin” or “deep” ratings are just projections. I bet many of these players will turn out well, even in later rounds. But it still affects teams’ strategies if they agree with those assessments.
Just spent the last 30 mins or so chatting with Chat GPT about the draft. It pulled from previous drafts the valuation chart and then speculation of the speculators.
With Seattle wanting extra picks. It said Arizona gets Seattles pick 32. Seattle gets Arizona 2027 1st rnd pick and 2026 3rd rnd pick. It said it could rise to a 2 if Seattle took the chance to play hardball. The scenario it used for that all 1st rnd picks are Arizona really wants the 5th year option.
I was surprised with it too don’t shoot the messenger. It also took into account that Arizona is thinking they are a playoff team. I believe they are going with a bad pick a probable bust and they are not going to play him this year.
If they do it will be another case of them pushing a bad QB onto the field. They kept hold of Murray way too long. Now reaching for a QB that will be worse than Murray.
No Seattle Arizona trade. Wow Rams make the leap for the front runner to be the biggest bust in the draft. Hope it comes to pass bust big time. Be just good enough to be a mid round draft pick and make the playoffs a few times.