Seattle Seahawks fans may have been skeptical of general manager John Schneider’s moves at the start of the 2025 offseason, but there was at least some balance to his decisions. Geno Smith out, Sam Darnold in. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett gone, replaced by Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
According to one report, however, those plans could soon face significant changes. Logan Ulrich, managing editor at NFL Trade Rumors, recently analyzed all 32 NFL teams and highlighted the players most likely to be traded before the regular season.
While some teams had half a dozen trade candidates, others had only one. The Seahawks fall into the latter group. It wasn’t a veteran with a burdensome contract, nor a position overflowing with talent—Seattle’s roster isn’t exactly stacked. Still, Ulrich did single out one player, and the choice may make more sense than it first appears.
Seattle Seahawks predicted to consider trading a player they just signed
Marquez Valdes-Scantling hasn’t yet played for Seattle, but he’s already being discussed as a potential trade option. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal this offseason—a reasonable cost for a receiver known for his speed and big-play ability.
His career average of 17.4 yards per catch is impressive, and with 20 touchdowns in 205 catches, he’s the kind of player any offensive coordinator would value.
The issue is that these stats are spread over a seven-year career. While there’s little concern about him losing speed, questions remain about his efficiency. MVS has had a history of drops and hasn’t consistently produced big numbers.
Still, he could fill a key need for Seattle, which lacks speed on the outside. So why consider trading him now?
Part of the reason is that other teams are actively seeking playmakers. High-profile receivers like Terry McLaurin and Jauan Jennings are dealing with holdouts or contract issues, and stars such as CeeDee Lamb and Tee Higgins have had protracted negotiations.
For a team short on options, a veteran deep-threat like Valdes-Scantling could be very appealing. The Seahawks might even get a solid return on their modest investment.
Seattle, however, would only move MVS if they had someone ready to step in—enter rookie Tory Horton from Colorado State. Though we’ve only seen glimpses of him, they’ve been promising. Horton looks big, fast, and like a real threat on the field—numbers on paper aside, he performs like a pro.
In the preseason opener, Horton scored a touchdown on his first catch in traffic and later made an impressive toe-tap catch along the sideline. He showed long strides that could burn defenders and ran strong routes, aside from a minor slip.
It’s easy to imagine Horton eventually providing what MVS does, and potentially more. If that happens, trading Valdes-Scantling becomes a real possibility.
The one limitation is Seattle’s lack of speed beyond these two players. Kupp, Jake Bobo, and Cody White are bigger targets but not particularly fast, while faster receivers like Tyrone Broden, Ricky White III, and Horton are untested.
Currently, there’s no pressing need to cut salary or move MVS, as lower-depth-chart receivers aren’t forcing their way onto the roster.
Scouting might focus more on defensive line or secondary players, where Seattle has more trade flexibility.
Still, if a player like Broden starts performing well, or a contending team sees a need for a speed receiver, Seattle could field offers for Valdes-Scantling. Schneider would likely consider such an opportunity, at the very least taking the call.
Be the first to comment