2011 NFL Draft: A Look at the Seattle Seahawks' Draft Day Trade Opportunities

One of the most exciting aspects of watching the NFL Draft are the trades.  Trades that happen right in the heat of the action feel like those we fans make in fantasy.  It lets us play armchair general manager, and we either love the deal or hate it.

Will Seattle be looking to make any trades during this year’s draft?

Last year they picked up Leon Washington and LenDale White on draft day trades; they resulted in one big hit and one big flop. 

So let’s take a look at the possibilities of moves this year, what they might be, who they might trade with and who they may select with the traded pick.

Earlier we took a look at some reasons for the Seahawks to stay put at No. 25, but what if they are looking to make a move?

These trades may not happen, but they could be possible.  You have to have a willing partner in order to make a trade, and with the uncertainty surrounding the CBA, the draft and free agency in the future, it may be harder to find a willing a partner.

Nonetheless, it’s interesting to wonder what wheeling and dealing might be happening behind the scenes.  Besides, we can only debate Jake Locker and Jimmy Smith for so long.

Here are four somewhat reasonable trade opportunities for Seattle.

Trade a First-Round Pick for a Player.

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CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass during the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals 34-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

There has been a great deal of talk in and around Seattle concerning the future of the signal-caller position.

The speculation, mostly by fans, revolves around trading for either Kevin Kolb, Carson Palmer and/or Kyle Orton.  While the merits of these trades are pretty debatable, the likelihood of them happening on draft day are slim to none.

With the lockout in full effect now, and most likely still so on draft day, teams are not able to trade players.  So the idea of  Palmer to Seattle for the 25th pick or a second-round pick is not going to happen during the draft.

Now, that does not mean the Seahawks won’t look at these deals after the lockout ends. 

Of course, any trade for a quarterback would suppose that Seattle cannot reach a deal with Matt Hasselbeck after the lockout ends.

Of the three, the only one that seems like it would have any chance of happening would be Palmer. 

Palmer wants out of Cincinnati and has a connection with Pete Carroll.  It’s unclear if the Bengals are going to grant him his wish or not, but if Seattle is unable to address the quarterback position during the draft, they may look at this.

Drafting for Orton does not seem like a possibility since John Fox announced he was his starter.  Even if Orton was an option for a trade, it seems like a stretch to think he is a guy capable of being the future, given his age and contract.

Kolb has been linked to the Seahawks in the press before, but this trade seems equally as unlikely.  The Eagles are looking for at least a first and third for Kolb, which would be too steep a price for a team with as many problems as Seattle to pay.

Trade Up, and Draft Anthony Castonzo.

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - OCTOBER 03: Anthony Castonzo #74 of the Boston College Eagles congratulates teammate Montel Harris #2 after Harris scored a touchdown in the first quarter against the Florida State Seminoles on October 3, 2009 at Alumni Stadium in Che

It is a well-known fact that the Seahawks need an offensive lineman, or two, or three this year. 

With their first pick at No. 25, most of the top ones will likely have been drafted already.

It is possible, if they were to fall in love with someone like Boston College's Anthony Castonzo, that they may try to move up to select him.

Most mock drafts have the Detroit Lions picking Castonzo at No. 13, which would fill a big need for the Lions. The Minnesota Vikings have the pick just before Detroit at No. 12.

The Vikings are in the market for a quarterback, but at 12, both Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton will most likely be gone, so Seattle could convince the Vikings to move down. If the Vikings swapped first-round picks, the Seahawks could select Castonzo, slot him in at left tackle and the Vikings could take someone like Jake Locker at an appropriate draft spot.

How realistic is this trade?

It seems like a little bit of a long shot considering Seattle's lack of a third-round pick.  Would Minnesota accept a fourth or fifth-round pick in return for sliding down 13 spots in the draft?

Not likely. Even if Minnesota did accept a fourth, that would leave Seattle with no third or fourth-round selection, which would somewhat hamper their draft.

Stranger things have happened though, and if Seattle were to move up, this seems the most likely spot.

Trade Down, and Draft Andy Dalton.

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs looks to pass against the Wisconsin Badgers during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

To draft a quarterback or not has been the long-standing debate in Seahawks land since the season ended in January.

Clearly, at some point, Seattle needs a long-term solution behind center.  Only Charlie Whitehurst is under contract right now, and if Seattle re-signs Matt Hasselbeck, his age makes him a one or two-year answer.

There are some reports the Seahawks are enamored with TCU's Andy Dalton, as one Sports Illustrated report claimed John Schneider had Dalton on top of their draft board.

If Seattle is enamored enough, they may just select Dalton at No. 25 and be done with it.  If they pass on him, he won't be around when Seattle picks again at 57.

Drafting after Seattle are teams like Buffalo, Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee and Washington, all of whom are in the market for a new quarterback.  There is no way Dalton will survive that gauntlet.

The Seahawks may roll the dice to try and move down to somewhere like the 33rd pick where New England sits. That would put them ahead of the rest of the quarterback-starved teams and pick up another late-round pick as well.

Even if they move down to around 33 and still somehow lose out on Dalton, they would still have their pick of other quarterbacks like Christian Ponder and Ryan Mallett to choose from.

How likely is this?

The trick to this scenario would be to try and find the right partner.  New England at 33 is one possibility, but would they be willing to give up a later round pick to move up eight slots?

Most likely. If Seattle liked Dalton, Ponder or Mallett enough to move down for them, they might as well use the first-round pick to get him. That way they would be ensured of getting their guy.

Trade Down, and Pick an Offensive or Defensive Lineman.

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EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 03: Running back LaMichael James #21 of the Oregon Ducks rushes with the ball past tackle Stephen Paea #54 of the Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium on December 3, 2009 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images)

Seattle general manager John Schneider was on KIRO 710 Monday afternoon and claimed his top priority in this draft was to walk away with an offensive and defensive lineman.

The offensive line woes have been well discussed in Seattle.  They finally found someone to try and replace Walter Jones by drafting Russell Okung in 2010, but they still have work to do.

At the beginning of the season, the Seahawks' run-defense was pretty stout, but after a couple of key injuries, their lack of depth was exposed, as well as huge holes for the opposition.

By trading down into the second round, the Seahawks may be able to pick up two guys to help both of these units.

With the number of teams looking for a quarterback mentioned earlier, it may be easier to find a trading partner here.  For example, San Francisco is rumored to love Andy Dalton as well and might be willing to move up to 25 to make sure they get him.

If Seattle could make a move like that, they could pick up someone like Baylor offensive lineman Danny Watkins and Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea.

The Seahawks could also replenish their lost third-round pick and further complete their rebuilding.

Of all the trade possibilities, this one seems like it's the most reasonable. 

We'll have to wait and see what the commissioner says when he comes to the podium with the 25th pick though.