The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2023 offseason in a great spot. Coming off of a playoff appearance, the team had a ton of assets remaining from the Russell Wilson blockbuster trade they made during the 2022 offseason.
It is very rare for a playoff team to have a top-10 pick, but that was the position Seattle was in after the Denver Broncos struggled mightily in 2022. The Seahawks ended up with the No. 5 overall pick, which many people believed they would use on a pass rusher.
That didn’t end up being the direction they went in as they picked Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon. They passed on a pass rusher at No. 20 as well, selecting Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njibga.
They eventually addressed their pass-rushing needs in the second round, selecting Derick Hall out of Auburn at No. 37. While Hall has a chance to develop into a very useful player for the Seahawks, adding another top pass rusher could push this unit over the top.
With Bobby Wagner back to lockdown linebacker with Jordyn Brooks and two Pro Bowlers in the secondary, Tariq Woolen at cornerback and Quandre Diggs at safety, a star pass rusher is all that is missing. Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor both had 9.5 sacks last season with Quinton Jefferson picking up 5.5
Adding one more high-upside player to the mix would give the Seahawks one of the highest-upside defensive units in the NFL. One player who they should look into acquiring is Chase Young of the Washington Commanders.
The Commanders made a bold decision earlier this offseason by declining the fifth-year option on Young’s rookie contract. It could not have been an easy decision to make as Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has shown just how dominant he can be when he won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. However, a devastating knee injury has derailed his career.
That was likely the driving force behind Washington’s decision to not exercise his option. What could a trade between the Seahawks and Commanders look like? A suggested trade offer would be Seattle offering a 2024 second-round pick and a conditional 2025 second-round pick that will convey if Young hits a specific threshold for playing time in 2023.
Washington is certainly hesitant to commit money to Young long-term given the injury concerns. After committing major money to Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne the last two offseasons, and an extension looming for Montez Sweat next year, there may not be enough money to go around.
Instead of possibly losing Young for nothing in free agency in 2024, the Commanders cash in and acquire two premium selections in exchange for him from the Seahawks. Seattle gets a potential game-changing pass rusher that could be a foundational piece for years to come.
Given the extra draft capital they have used the last two years from the Broncos, the Seahawks can afford to take a chance on Young. If he doesn’t bounce back, no harm no foul as he isn’t under contract beyond 2023. If he plays well, Seattle will have the chance to work out a long-term deal and at the very least use the franchise tag on him.
