One trade, cut and signing the Seattle Seahawks should make

After 14 seasons, the Pete Carroll era for the Seattle Seahawks came to an end this offseason. Former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has been hired to replace him and start a new chapter. 

Macdonald is taking over a team that has finished 9-8 the past two seasons and is stuck in the middle of the NFL's standings. Here is one trade, cut and free agent signing the Seahawks should make this offseason to help take the next step. 

TRADE: Move up in the draft

Let's make a bold suggestion here right from the start.

Why? To try to get a quarterback.

Geno Smith has been a very solid stop-gap, bridge solution and helped them stay competitive following the Russell Wilson era. But he is probably not a long-term answer or the type of elite quarterback that is likely to lift a team to the Super Bowl. 

The Seahawks are in that tough middle ground of the draft (No. 16 overall) where they will be just out of reach for the prime quarterback prospects. Given how strong this year's quarterback class is at the top, and how weak the 2025 NFL Draft is supposed to be for quarterbacks, this might be a good time to make a bold move and try to fix that long-term problem.

Smith can still play for another season and allow them to bring a rookie along slowly, and they might have a chance to develop a player that can get them back to Super Bowl contention. 

CUT: WR Tyler Lockett

The easy answer here was safety Jamal Adams, and the Seahawks took care of that on Tuesday by releasing him following a disappointing four-year run with the team.

They might still have another potential big cut that needs to be made in Lockett.

He still has two years remaining on his current contract and could give the Seahawks some salary-cap savings if they decided to move on from him. He has been a great Seahawk for the past nine years, but is going to be 32 next season and has shown some signs of slowing down. Seattle still has strong wide receiver depth with D.K. Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at the top of the lineup. 

SIGNING: LB Patrick Queen

The Seahawks defense has been a major issue the past two seasons, finishing each year 25th in the NFL in points against. The two biggest areas of concern have been along the defensive line and at middle linebacker. 

Seattle could address the middle-linebacker spot in a big way in free agency by signing Queen away from the Ravens, giving them an impactful, three-down MLB who can play against the run, defend the pass and rush the passer. Playing in a division with San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Seahawks are going to need to be significantly better on defense if they are going to compete. 

Using a prime pick on a middle linebacker may not be the best asset management, but addressing it in free agency might be worthwhile. 

Queen also has an obvious history with Macdonald from their time together in Baltimore.