NFL Football's Seattle Seahawks and Pete Carroll Trade for Andrew Luck?

Seattle Seahawks fans can almost bet that their NFL football team will have a top-ten pick in the 2012 NFL draft.  At this point in the season, it’s a guarantee they’ll have a top-15 selection.   What does Seattle need to help coach Pete Carroll win more games?

The casual fan can tell you that the Seahawks certainly aren’t lacking talent at running back with the Cal duo of Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett carrying the load.

Wide receiver isn’t an issue, either, though the Seahawks could afford to upgrade their unit with a superstar draft pick.  Would that matter, however, if Seattle’s quarterbacks can’t get him the ball?

Seattle’s offensive line has given up the most sacks of any unit this year with 28 sacks allowed.  This is caused by a number of issues.  First, the offensive line simply isn’t that good.  Second, the quarterback is unable to read the defense quickly enough or release the ball fast enough to avoid pressure.

With a high pick in this year’s draft, what should Seattle do?

They could wait around and see who falls to them.  While USC’s Matt Kalil likely won’t be around by that point in the draft, his Pac-12 counterparts from Stanford should be—guard David DeCastro and tackle Jonathan Martin.  Seattle will likely be able to upgrade its offensive line with later picks in the draft, however.

With Alabama and Wisconsin adding their share of offensive linemen to this year’s draft, Seattle should really look at an upgrade at quarterback.  If they do this, though, they should trade up to get one the NFL’s top targets.

Will the Seahawks trade up for Andrew Luck?

If the Miami Dolphins win the Andrew Luck lottery, there is no way any team will have a chance to draft the Stanford star.  The Dolphins are in desperate need of a quarterback.  The Seahawks' best bet is the first pick going to the Indianapolis Colts.

If the Colts get the first selection in the 2012 NFL draft, they’ll certainly trade it, but the cost won’t be cheap.  Plenty of teams want Luck, and plenty of teams need him, including Miami.  Will the Seahawks do what’s necessary to match Luck with Pete Carroll?

Another option avoids the fight for Luck altogether.  The Seahawks and Carroll could be best served by drafting Matt Barkley.  Lane Kiffin runs nearly the same system as Carroll, so it would be an easier transition for Barkley to step in right away.

The only questions about Barkley are whether he’ll be the next Matt Leinart or the next Mark Sanchez and Carson Palmer.  Pete Carroll hasn’t shown much loyalty to USC Trojans since joining Seattle.  Would he even consider a trade to get Barkley?

The best-case scenario for Seattle is to trade up for the opportunity to get Luck or Barkley.  No other quarterbacks in this draft will provide the Seahawks the upgrade they need at the position.  The needs at offensive line are dire, but there are plenty of prospects to solve this problem later in the 2012 NFL draft.