Seahawks move for Quenton Nelson as Colts receive two draft picks
Seattle has reportedly acquired the eight-time Pro Bowl guard for third- and fifth-round picks, adding help to its offensive line as Indianapolis reshapes its roster.
The Seattle Seahawks have reportedly acquired eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts in a trade on Tuesday, October 27, that would strengthen Seattle’s offensive line and give Indianapolis two draft picks. A person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press that the Colts would receive a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick. Neither team had announced the deal when AP reported it.
CBS Sports also reported the exchange, describing the fifth-round selection as a future pick. Nelson spent eight full seasons with Indianapolis and can become a free agent in March, according to AP. That makes the length of his stay in Seattle an immediate question alongside the help he could provide this season.
Why Seattle pursued Nelson
CBS Sports reported that Seattle’s offensive line has struggled particularly on the inside. Citing its own research, the outlet said the Seahawks had allowed the NFL’s highest pressure rate on interior plays. It also cited TruMedia data showing Nelson had allowed six pressures and no sacks from left guard through seven games this season. Those figures explain the appeal of adding him to a team CBS describes as the reigning Super Bowl champion.
Former Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson welcomed the potential effect on current quarterback Sam Darnold. ClutchPoints, in a report carried by Yahoo Sports, quoted Wilson as saying the move could help Darnold use play-action and throw downfield to receiver JSN. The report attributed Wilson’s remarks to NFL on CBS; it did not present them as an interview with ClutchPoints.
What Indianapolis receives
The picks come amid a difficult stretch for Indianapolis. The Colts were 2-5, had lost three straight games and had dropped 12 of their previous 14, AP reported. The club fired general manager Chris Ballard the previous week after a home loss to the Tennessee Titans, with assistant general manager Ed Dodds taking over on an interim basis.
Dodds worked for Seattle from 2007 to 2016 as a scout and senior personnel executive, according to CBS Sports. Nelson, the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft, earned All-Pro honors as a rookie and again in 2019 and 2020. His departure removes one of Indianapolis’s most decorated players while adding draft capital for its next roster decisions.
The teams’ next scheduled games are against different opponents: Indianapolis visits Jacksonville on Sunday, while Seattle hosts Chicago on Monday night, AP reported. Nelson’s availability for Seattle’s game was not established in the reports.
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Sources and context
- Sliding Colts trade All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to Seahawks for draft picksAssociated Press, republished by The Guardian
- Quenton Nelson trade grades: Seahawks add eight-time Pro Bowler, while Colts look to sell piecesCBS Sports
- Russell Wilson thinks Sam Darnold is biggest winner in Seahawks’ Quenton Nelson tradeClutchPoints, republished by Yahoo Sports
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.