The unofficial halfway marker of the NFL season is upon us–and it’s been action-packed so far. Early takeaways: The Jacksonville Jaguars are loading up for a championship run, acquiring defensive tackle Jordan Davis in a blockbuster deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in their third separate deal to stop the run, while the Indianapolis Colts are shipping out every player not nailed down. Seattle was the beneficiary of their fire sale, getting All-Pro guard Quentin Nelson for a 2027 third-rounder and a late-round 2028 pick swap a few weeks ago (who promptly looked shaky in his debut against Jeffrey Simmons and the Chicago Bears front and will now be out through the bye week due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 7 as a member of the Colts).
Obviously, general manager John Schneider and the rest of the front office brass thought the trenches needed attention sooner rather than later, but even bringing their record one game over .500 (5-4) following their win against divisional foe the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday, this team is incomplete–and currently sits at second place in the top-heavy NFC West.
Even though Seattle is allowing only 155 passing yards per game (second in the league after Minnesota), re-signee Josh Jobe is getting cooked like the many Korean barbecue spots surrounding The Link in SoDo (I’ll never call it Lumen). Anyone not named Jaxson Smith-Njigba can’t get open, and ever since tight end Elijah Arroyo went down with an injury of his own, the offense has struggled to produce in the middle of the field (despite A.J. Barner’s two-touchdown performance this past Sunday). On top of that, starting signal caller Sam Darnold has regressed under new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s version of the “Shanahan” offense and missed time with various injuries after not missing a snap a year ago. At the same time, understudy Drew Lock, has played admirably when called upon but is banged up. Over the last few weeks, it’s clear that this team needs changes to defend its title.
Luckily for the 12s, I’m here to help. I’m going to propose a few players–two new toys on offense and a defensive back who would instantly upgrade the secondary–who could potentially give the Hawks the juice they’ve been missing since whooping the New England Patriots on Opening Night. Take notes, Schneider.
WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Since we’ve already pilfered their cupboard for a future Hall of Famer, let’s see what else they got. Move the peanut butter pretzels and unopened jar of horseradish out of the way, and you’ll find an explosive, lightly used receiver with an expiring contract who can be used in a variety of roles. While he primarily operates out of the slot, he can play outside as well, though you won’t see him Moss defenders very often, as his shiftiness and YAC ability are his calling cards. A refined route runner and reliable separator, he would pair well with JSN, adding multiplicity to an aerial attack that desperately needs it. Reports say Downs has requested a trade, and the Colts have offered a third-round draft pick as fair compensation. That’s a little rich for a player with 33 catches for 354 yards and a TD, who may be a rental. But if Schneider and company haggle and maybe give up a 2028 Day Three pick, this could be the jolt of energy Seattle needs to spark their passing game.
TE Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
It feels like the sky is always falling in Philly, but this year, it really is. Alpha wideout A.J. Brown forced his way off the team in the offseason; their franchise quarterback, Jalen Hurts, is on the shelf with blood clots, and their Super Bowl-winning coach is definitely on the hot seat. Stars like De’Vonta Smith and Saquon Barkley have been in and out of the lineup because of injuries. After long-time position coach Jeff Stoutland retired, the offensive line took multiple steps back, with the cherry on top being future Hall of Famer tackle Lane Johnson’s decision to step away from the sport midseason. That said, this team isn’t that far from winning a championship, driven by players like Goedert. His presence would help the passing game down the seams, and he’s a decent blocker (maybe not at this point in his career, but the effort is still there). Barner has been making a name for himself in recent weeks, but with the league-wide shift to 13 personnel (1 running back, 3 tight ends), they could both be on the field in certain formations, making defenses hesitate to key on the run or pass. With how this year has gone for the Birds, I wouldn’t be surprised if Philly GM Howie Roseman decides to clean house, recoup draft capital, and focus on next season, since Goedert has only this year of his contract remaining. They already have his replacement on the roster (first-year player Eli Stowers).
DB Kristian Fulton, Kansas City Chiefs
The former LSU Tiger has been Wally Pipped by the younger corners in Steve Spagunolo’s aggressive, blitz-heavy defense, but I still think he’s got some gas left in the tank. The stats show it–when targeted, he’s holding opposing passers to a 42% completion rate and a passing rating of 10.7. In limited game action, he’s recorded one pass deflection and a pick. With an expiring deal, Kansas City is in the market for a wide receiver and needs the cap space; I’d bet money this is in the works. For a defense that took three corners this past draft and kicked the tires on veterans like Trevon Diggs and Terrion Arnold, this acquisition would nicely balance need and value. He’s a physical boundary corner, making $10 million this year, with experience in both man coverage and zone match looks—someone the coaching staff could put in a lot of different positions.
Honorable mention to Donte Jackson here as well. The veteran speedster is languishing on the lowly 0-8 Los Angeles Chargers, is making even less than Fulton (he’s in the last year of a two-year, $13 million pact), and is perfectly suited to the Hawks’ cover-3 zone defense. Both scream bargain deals that can provide valuable reps on the boundary and move Jobe to the slot.
Good front offices and Madden Franchise players know the roster you have when you break camp isn’t necessarily the one that will take you to the playoffs or win you a title. A team is a living organism like a flower; it needs constant cultivation to thrive. Given the recent track record of the Seahawks, we gotta have faith that they’ll make the right moves to help the idea of back-to-back titles take root within the organization and bloom.
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