The Seattle Seahawks are 5-1 with a hot offense and MVP candidate but so far their defense has been a different story. The Seahawks secondary has been lackluster for a few years now. Some promising young talent has managed to hold it together but lately, the spark has been missing. Below are three trade options that could help improve the Seahawks secondary.
Three Trade Options to Help Improve Seahawks Secondary
Chris Harris Jr.
Chris Harris Jr. has been one of the league’s top cornerbacks since he was drafted in 2011. Although things haven’t gone smoothly for Harris and the Denver Broncos so far this season, a trade could be rejuvenating for all sides. The Seahawks could use help on the outside and even at nickel—which Harris has the experience of playing both— while Harris could use the career revitalization, and the Broncos can gain some decent draft capital. This wouldn’t be the first mention of Harris to Seattle.
Mike Hilton
The Steelers have a very good secondary and Mike Hilton has been a key part of their transformation. Hilton has primarily played at nickel corner—where he currently splits snaps with Cameron Sutton—but he also has a bit of a hidden ability to play safety too.
Although quite undersized for a defensive back, Hilton plays a physical game and could easily thrive in the Seahawks defense whether he’s in the slot or at safety. Hilton, who currently has a 73.2 PFF grade, would become a contributor immediately in this Seahawks defense.
Mackensie Alexander
Mackensie Alexander would easily add value to the Seahawks secondary. He ranked among Touchdown Wire’s top slot defenders in 2018 and finished with 43 combined tackles, four sacks, five QB hits, and one interception. This year has gone a bit slower for him so far since he’s missed half the games with an elbow injury, although it seems like he’s back on track now.
Alexander’s potential didn’t emerge until last season but now he’s a valuable defensive back who excels in man coverage and plays an aggressive game.
Alexander is set to be a free agent at the end of the season and the Minnesota Vikings have yet to extend his contract. The Seahawks would likely not have to give up too much to acquire him if they wanted to and his 2019 base salary wouldn’t be a huge hit to their cap. Likely to have a hot market in the off-season, Alexander would be valuable even if he played in Seattle for just the remainder of 2019.
Changes Need to Be Made
The Seahawks may be in a good spot right now but their secondary is as stale as ever, and Shaquill Griffin feels like the only good part of it. Even though they are to thank for four of the teams’ six interceptions, they are 20th in the league in passing yards allowed per game, and their defense is ranked 18th in passing and total DVOA by Football Outsiders.
The Seahawks haven’t played a whole lot of nickel defense this year because of their focus on a traditional base 4-3 defense with a heavy three-linebacker look, but it wouldn’t hurt to implement more nickel packages especially because Mychal Kendricks has given up 100% of the passes he’s covered and missed 31% of his tackles.
Harris, Hilton, and Alexander would all three be extremely valuable to the Seahawk’s defense. Hilton and Alexander are likely too valuable to their respective teams’ defenses to give up but it doesn’t hurt to indulge in the possibilities. Seattle’s general manager John Schneider has been very active in the trade market this year so far so it wouldn’t be surprising for him to make another move before the trade deadline on October 29.
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