Could the Seattle Seahawks make another trade before the NFL’s trade deadline on November 5? With general manager John Schneider at the helm, anything is possible. Following some concerning play from the offensive line in recent weeks, many fans (myself included) are left wondering if Schneider might look to make a move for an offensive lineman before the deadline.
The Seahawks have already made two trades in the past few weeks, acquiring defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris and linebacker Ernest Jones. A third trade for an offensive lineman could be intriguing, but the question remains: Is it worth it?
One name that has been mentioned frequently in trade rumors is Brandon Scherff. The Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly open to trading the five-time Pro Bowl guard, which has caught the attention of many teams, including the Seahawks. Jacksonville has already moved its starting left tackle, Cam Robinson, to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2026 fifth-round pick (which could become a fourth-rounder) and also traded Robertson-Harris to Seattle for a 2026 sixth-rounder. It’s clear that the Jaguars, with a 2-7 record, are in full-on fire-sale mode. So, could they be willing to part with Scherff for a reasonable price?
With Jacksonville unlikely to make a postseason push this year and Scherff set to hit free agency after the season, there’s little incentive for either party to stick around. The Jaguars may prefer to get something in return for the veteran guard rather than let him walk for nothing. Meanwhile, Seattle has enough cap space to absorb Scherff’s contract. According to Over the Cap, the Seahawks have $8.65 million in cap room remaining, and Scherff is set to earn $1.75 million in guaranteed money for the remainder of the year, with nine game checks already paid by the Jaguars. This makes Scherff’s contract very tradeable, and the Seahawks could easily fit him into their cap.
On paper, a trade for Scherff seems plausible, but it’s not a slam dunk. While Jacksonville only received a modest package for Robinson, Scherff is a far more accomplished player. With five Pro Bowls and a 2020 First-Team All-Pro nod under his belt, Scherff’s track record far outweighs Robinson’s, which could command a higher asking price from Jacksonville. Additionally, the Seahawks aren’t the only team in need of offensive line help; nearly every NFL team could use an upgrade on the line, which drives up the price for available players. As a result, Jacksonville may be able to secure a Day 2 draft pick (potentially in 2025) for Scherff, despite his expiring contract.
The next question is whether Scherff would be an immediate upgrade for Seattle. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), current Seahawks right guard Anthony Bradford has earned an overall grade of 50.4, with a 58.6 run-blocking grade and a 51.6 pass-blocking grade. By comparison, Scherff has posted a 62.5 overall grade, with a 56.0 run-blocking grade and a 71.5 pass-blocking grade. While Scherff outperforms Bradford in pass protection, he is slightly behind in run blocking, where Bradford has the edge. These numbers are worth considering, but keep in mind that PFF’s grading system is subjective, and the true impact of a player may not be fully captured in the stats.
When it comes to making a trade, there’s always a cost-benefit analysis. The pros of trading for Scherff include his affordable contract and the potential for an upgrade in pass protection, an area where the Seahawks have struggled. The cons, however, include the possibility of a higher asking price than Schneider is willing to pay, the risk of Scherff not being a strong run blocker, and the fact that he’s on an expiring contract. There are also the unknowns: how Scherff would fit into Seattle’s offensive scheme under Ryan Grubb, whether the move would disrupt the chemistry of the offensive line, and whether Scherff would be willing to return to Seattle beyond 2024.
Would offering a Day 2 pick to Jacksonville be worth it for Scherff? It’s easy to point to the struggles at guard in recent games and think that a single player could make a difference. But is one guard the key to Seattle’s Super Bowl aspirations? If not, is giving up future draft capital for Scherff really a sound investment? In my opinion, it’s probably not worth it. That said, I’d still get a little excited about the possibility of adding a Pro Bowl guard to the line.