The Seattle Seahawks are fielding trade inquiries for the No. 32 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, league sources confirmed Monday, as the front office looks to convert the final selection of the first round into additional capital for next year’s class. The move signals a deliberate shift in roster-building strategy under general manager John Schneider, who has increasingly prioritized flexibility in future drafts over the immediate impact of a late-first-round prospect.
The No. 32 pick carries a unique value. It is the last pick of the first round, which means the team selecting there holds a fifth-year option on the player’s rookie contract—a significant bargaining chip for quarterback-needy teams or clubs looking to secure a premium position player on a cost-controlled deal. For Seattle, which currently holds only six picks in the 2026 draft (including this one), trading down into the second or third round while adding a 2027 selection would address a looming depth issue.
“We’re open to everything,” Schneider said during a pre-draft press conference last week. “If the right offer comes along that improves our position for the future, we’re going to take a hard look at it. We’ve got a good feel for the board, and we know what we need.”
What the Seahawks need, specifically, is more swings at the dartboard. Seattle currently lacks a second-round pick in 2026, having sent it to the New York Giants last October as part of the trade for defensive lineman Leonard Williams. That deal, which also included a 2025 fifth-rounder, netted the Seahawks a Pro Bowl-caliber interior presence but left a hole in their draft capital. The No. 32 pick is their only selection in the top 100 unless they move.
A trade back would likely net Seattle a second-rounder this year—somewhere in the 40-55 range—plus a future Day 2 pick, perhaps a 2027 third-rounder. That kind of package would give the Seahawks two picks in the top 75 this year and an extra asset to use in next year’s draft, when they currently project to have only their own selections in Rounds 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7.
The timing of this exploration is notable. Seattle is coming off a 9-8 season that ended with a Wild Card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The roster has clear strengths: a young, ascending quarterback in Geno Smith (who threw for 4,300 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2025), a dynamic wide receiver duo in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and a defense that finished top-10 in points allowed. But the team also has glaring needs—particularly along the offensive line and in the secondary—that were exposed in the playoff loss.
The offensive line allowed 47 sacks last season, the fifth-most in the league. Left tackle Charles Cross has been solid but not elite, and the right side of the line—a rotating cast of guards and tackles—was a consistent liability. Adding a plug-and-play starter at guard or right tackle in the second round, rather than reaching for a fringe first-round prospect at No. 32, could be a more efficient use of capital. Similarly, the secondary, which lost safety Jamal Adams to a season-ending foot injury in Week 4, needs reinforcements. Cornerback Riq Woolen is a star, but the depth behind him is thin.
Trading back also aligns with Schneider’s historical tendencies. In his 16 years as Seattle’s GM, he has traded down in the first round four times—most notably in 2012, when he moved from No. 12 to No. 15 and later to No. 25, eventually selecting Bruce Irvin. That deal netted a third-rounder used on Russell Wilson. The pattern is clear: Schneider values volume and believes his scouting staff can find starters in the middle rounds.
“John has always been aggressive about accumulating picks,” said a league executive familiar with Seattle’s thinking. “He’s not afraid to move back if he thinks the player he wants will be there later. And with the No. 32 pick, you’re really in a gray area. You’re not getting a top-15 talent, but you’re also not getting a Day 2 bargain. It’s the perfect spot to trade.”
The market for the No. 32 pick will likely include teams looking to secure a fifth-year option on a quarterback or a premium pass-rusher. The New Orleans Saints, who hold the No. 40 pick, are a logical trade partner. They have two second-rounders (No. 40 and No. 49) and could be eyeing a developmental signal-caller. The Las Vegas Raiders, picking at No. 38, also have extra Day 2 capital. Both teams have expressed interest in moving up, sources say.
For Seattle, the calculus is straightforward: the 2026 draft is considered deep at positions of need—interior offensive line, cornerback, and edge rusher—but the team’s own 2027 draft class is thin. By trading back now, the Seahawks can restock for next year while still addressing immediate holes. It’s a bet on the scouting department’s ability to find value in the second round, and on the coaching staff’s ability to develop it.
There is also a salary cap angle. The No. 32 pick carries a projected four-year contract worth roughly $12.5 million, fully guaranteed, with a fifth-year option. That’s manageable, but it’s also a significant chunk of a rookie pool that Seattle must fit under the cap. Trading back to a second-round slot would reduce the guaranteed money and free up cap space to address other needs—perhaps a veteran offensive lineman or a cornerback in free agency.
Head coach Mike Macdonald, entering his second season, has emphasized the need for competition and depth. “You can never have enough good players,” Macdonald said at the league meetings last month. “If we can add more picks, more opportunities to find guys who fit what we do, that’s a win.”
The Seahawks have until April 24 to finalize any trade. The draft itself begins April 23, but the No. 32 pick will not be on the clock until the second night. That gives Schneider and his staff time to work the phones, gauge interest, and decide whether to pull the trigger. For now, the message is clear: Seattle is open for business, and the price is a future pick that could help build the 2027 roster.
Whether they ultimately trade down or stay put, the exploration itself signals a front office that is thinking beyond the immediate season. In a division that includes the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers and a resurgent Rams team, every edge matters. Adding a 2027 Day 2 pick might not help in September, but it could be the difference between a one-and-done playoff run and a sustained contender. For a team that has made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, that long view is exactly the right one.
