The Seattle Seahawks suffered a major blow to their playoff hopes in Week 17. Hosting the just as hungry for a victory Pittsburgh Steelers at home, Seattle lost 30-23. That dropped their record to 8-8 on the season, putting them in a tough spot heading into Week 18.
The easiest path to the playoffs for the Seahawks is to defeat the Arizona Cardinals and have the Green Bay Packers be defeated by the Chicago Bears. If the Seahawks lose, they will need the Packers to lose and then have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New Orleans Saints lose or tie their games.
While it certainly isn’t impossible to have happen, the Seahawks have put themselves in this spot with some inconsistent play. Outside of a two-game winning streak in Weeks 15 and 16, Seattle has lost their other five games in a seven-game stretch.
NFL News & Rumors: Geno Smith, 2024 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks Updates
That has put a lot of focus on the future of the franchise, as some big moves could be on the horizon. There have been discussions about head coach Pete Carroll and whether or not he would retire. The quarterback position is one people are also going to be keeping an eye on.
Geno Smith signed a three-year contract in the offseason, but the Seahawks could get out of it after one season. He took a step back in some areas after a major bounceback during the 2022 campaign.
Potentially in the market for a new franchise quarterback, Dan Graziano of ESPN has suggested that the Seahawks get in touch with the Chicago Bears about a potential blockbuster trade. Could the Bears trade the No. 1 pick in the draft for the second straight year? Graziano believes it is possible and Seattle could be a suitor.
“I do not know what the Bears will ultimately do in the lead-up to the draft. Fields has played well down the stretch, as the Bears appear to have rallied around embattled coach Matt Eberflus, possibly even saving Eberflus’ job. Trading away the top pick, amassing more picks and using them to build around Fields is a legitimate option. Some might even say it’s their best one,” wrote Graziano.
NFL News & Rumors: Geno Smith, 2024 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks Updates
The Bears will once again play a major role in the NFL offseason. What they decide to do at quarterback will have an effect on the entire league. A franchise is going to be adding an impact player under center, whether it is Justin Fields or a top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
If the Bears opt to move forward with Fields as their quarterback, they can get another king’s ransom for the No. 1 pick. That route worked out well ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft as Chicago came away with D.J. Moore and excellent draft capital from the Carolina Panthers.
While the Seahawks won’t be as bad in 2024 as the Panthers were in 2023, they could still provide the Bears with premium assets in a trade. Multiple first-round picks would be on the board, providing Chicago a chance to continue stockpiling assets and building their roster up around Fields.
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