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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: John Schneider, General manager of the Seattle Seahawks, celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Seattle Seahawks have made no secret about the fact that the team is in the market to track back in the NFL draft. General manager John Schneider admitted Seattle will even consider a trade with an NFC West rival as the team dangles the No. 32 pick.
The Seahawks do just that in ESPN’s Peter Schrager’s final mock draft. Seattle strikes a trade with the Arizona Cardinals as the team’s rival moves up and selects Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.
In exchange for the No. 32 pick, the Seahawks slide back two spots to No. 34 and also secure a sixth-round selection (No. 183). Not exactly a blockbuster deal, and Seattle will likely ask for more in return, especially with a quarterback being the target.
“I took you all the way to the last pick of the mock draft, but yes, I have Simpson going in Round 1,” Schrager detailed in an April 22, NFL mock draft. “To move back two spots, the Seahawks would happily add a sixth-round pick in a year when they have only four total selections.
“And the Cardinals would happily give up that late-rounder to (a) get Simpson and (b) get him with a fifth-year option. Simpson is slated to be in the green room at the draft, and though it might be a long night, I think he will come off the board on Day 1.”
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Seahawks rumors.
Seahawks Rumors: Seattle Has Talked Trades With NFC West Rivals
Arizona is looking to hit the reset button at quarterback after cutting ties with Kyler Murray this offseason as the star later signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Simpson is the most likely candidate to be the second quarterback selected in the NFL draft after Fernando Mendoza.
The Alabama quarterback threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 64.5% of his passes in 2025. Simpson also added 93 rushing yards and 2 TDs on the ground.
“We’ve talked within our division,” Schneider said ahead of the NFL draft, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. “That was kind of frowned upon for a while, like you don’t trade within your division. Everybody in our division, we would trade with.
“We have good relationships with all three of those teams. You’re maneuvering around the board to try to help your team no matter what. So, when you look at it through that lens, you’re basically not concerned about [helping another team].”
The Seahawks Are Looking to Trade Out of the 1st Round of the NFL Draft
Simpson still being on the board at No. 32 would be the best-case scenario for Seattle. Teams like the Cardinals may be willing to pay a premium in order to move up and land a quarterback.
As for the Seahawks, the team is looking to add to the four selections the front office currently has to work with heading into the draft. The simplest solution is for Seattle to trade out of the first round.
“It’s no secret with us,” Schneider explained regarding the Seahawks’ desire to trade back from No. 32. “We have four picks, so we’ll be looking to move back.”
Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports contributor covering the NFL, NBA and golf for Heavy.com. His work has been prominently featured on NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated. More about Jonathan Adams
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