1 last-minute trade Seahawks must make before Week 1 of 2026 NFL season

The Seattle Seahawks received positive news when first-round running back Jadarian Price returned to practice after dealing with upper-leg soreness that kept him out of the preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys. His return alleviates some concerns in a backfield that is already missing Zach Charbonnet. Additionally, Seattle has added Anthony Hankerson to provide another option during this injury-plagued period.

However, the situation concerning Terrion Arnold is much more complicated. Seattle has been working to add the former Lions cornerback, but his ongoing legal case has complicated the process and could prevent him from practicing or playing immediately. This creates uncertainty around a move that initially seemed likely to bolster an already strong secondary.

Despite these developments, the Seahawks still have a pressing need as the late summer approaches. If general manager John Schneider wants to make another move before the defending champions begin their title defense, he should reach out to the Dallas Cowboys about acquiring edge rusher Sam Williams.

Seahawks should trade a 2027 sixth-round pick for Sam Williams

Seattle does not need another blockbuster acquisition for now. The starting defense remains one of the strongest units in football, and the Seahawks already have four established outside linebackers: Derick Hall, Uchenna Nwosu, Dante Fowler Jr., and DeMarcus Lawrence. This gives Mike Macdonald enough talent to construct a quality pass-rush rotation without forcing another player into a major role.

However, problems arise immediately after those four. Seattle’s first preseason game highlighted concerns that had already developed during training camp, as the reserve pass rush struggled to generate consistent disruption against Dallas. A recent 53-man roster projection noted that the competition behind Seattle’s established edge defenders has been underwhelming enough that the Seahawks could either enter the season with only four pure outside linebackers or search for additional help through a trade, with Mike Morris potentially serving as an emergency option if necessary.

This is not an ideal setup for a team aiming to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Nwosu has dealt with significant injuries in recent seasons, Lawrence is entering the later stages of his career, and even with Hall’s development into an important defensive piece, Seattle would benefit from another rusher capable of absorbing rotational snaps without forcing the coaching staff to dramatically alter the front if one of its top four players misses time.

Williams fits that requirement without demanding the price associated with a marquee pass rusher. Dallas brought the former second-round pick back on a one-year deal after an inconsistent first stint with the organization, but his roster situation became considerably more complicated when the Cowboys added Von Miller. Dallas now has a crowded group of edge rushers, and Williams has been identified as one of the players whose position could become vulnerable due to the veteran signing, as he produced 8.5 sacks during his first two NFL seasons as a rotational defender before a torn ACL disrupted his career.

Penalties and inconsistency have also prevented him from establishing himself as a dependable long-term starter, and for Seattle, those flaws would be easier to tolerate because Williams would not be asked to start. Macdonald could use him as the fifth edge defender, allowing him to attack quarterbacks in specific situations while limiting the exposure that comes with playing a larger percentage of defensive snaps. At his best, Williams has enough burst and power to create pressure against tackles, and the Seahawks would be betting that a smaller role within one of the league’s most disciplined defenses could bring more positive performances while reducing some of the mistakes that have followed him.

The proposed acquisition cost should also remain modest. A 2027 sixth-round pick would provide Dallas something tangible for a player who may otherwise find himself squeezed out of the rotation, while Seattle would avoid sacrificing premium draft capital for what is essentially an insurance policy with upside.

Dallas has even more reason to consider this move now that Miller has joined the team, adding to a pass-rush group that already includes Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Malachi Lawrence. Williams no longer needs to be seen as indispensable depth when the Cowboys have enough options to redistribute his snaps, and acquiring future draft capital would be preferable to ending August with more edge rushers than available roster spots.

Conversely, Seattle is in exactly the opposite position. The Seahawks have four players they can trust at the top of the depth chart, followed by a group of younger candidates that did little in the preseason opener to prove the position is adequately secured. Their current roster projection does not include a fifth edge rusher, specifically raising the possibility of a trade if the depth does not improve.

That makes Williams a more attractive target than pursuing another high-profile name whose salary, acquisition cost, and expected playing time could disrupt a championship roster. A sixth-round pick for a rotational defender may not create the excitement of a deadline blockbuster, but Seattle needs protection against injuries that could become far more expensive once the regular season begins.

Price returning to practice alleviates one immediate concern for the offense, while the uncertain situation with Arnold does not create an emergency since Seattle already possesses considerable depth in the secondary. Edge rusher is different, and after what the backups showed against Dallas, waiting until Week 1 to discover that the group is too thin would be unnecessary.

Williams is available enough to make a conversation realistic, talented enough to immediately improve Seattle’s fifth edge spot, and inexpensive enough that the Seahawks would not be compromising their future to acquire him. For a defending champion looking for one final move rather than another offseason overhaul, this is precisely the type of trade that Schneider should aim to complete before Week 1.

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