Which recent first round picks could change teams soon?
This is why the Seahawks aren't in a rush to draft an edge
By signing Dante Fowler Jr. this week, the Seahawks established that they like first round edge rushers but they don’t like being the ones to draft them in the first round.
It’s been 14 years since Seattle drafted Bruce Irvin, the last true edge rusher picked by the Seahawks in the first round.
Fowler is the latest in a line of former first round picks to sign with the Seahawks mid or late-career and he’s far from the last.
So I decided to go back to the previous three drafts to identify other first round picks who could be changing teams in the near future and you know what? For all the noise created over drafting running backs in the first round (a relatively safe bet), edge rushers and receivers DOMINATE these lists.
Which players could make sense for the Seahawks?
2023: Trench No-Fair
QB Anthony Richardson, Colts; DL Tyree Wilson, (Saints); DT Jalen Carter, Eagles; EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Packers; OT Broderick Jones, Steelers; EDGE Will McDonald, Jets; CB Emmanuel Forbes, (Rams); DT Calijah Kancey, Bucs; WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers; WR Jordan Addison, Vikings; CB Deonte Banks, Giants; TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills; DT Mazi Smith, (Jets); DE Myles Murphy, Bengals; DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs
Tyree Wilson was the most mocked player to the Seahawks in 2023 (which was just as absurd then as it sounds now) and last month he was traded to the Saints without anyone even noticing.
However, there are some intriguing edge rushers on this list who might not sign extensions with their current teams and could have the potential to benefit from a change of scenery.
The Packers picked up Van Ness’s fifth-year option but maybe as a last-ditch effort to get value from the 13th overall pick. He has 8.5 sacks in three seasons and missed half of the season last year. Already paying Micah Parsons over $40 million per year, Van Ness’s days could be numbered in Green Bay.
Will McDonald has been a much more productive player, including 18.5 sacks in the last two years, but the Jets are always willing to trade young players—even when he’s not a bust.
Murphy and Anudike-Uzomah didn’t have their options picked up, meaning they are set to be free agents in 2027. Anudike missed the entire 2025 season with a hamstring injury. Murphy took a step forward last year but it would’ve been hard to step back with his back against the wall. Of all the defensive linemen here who could be available, the one who might be easiest to acquire with some upside is Murphy.
I put Richardson, but I also wouldn’t extend Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud if I was running their teams until after I see what happens in 2026.
Kincaid’s option was picked up even though the Bills are worried about his knee
The Seahawks drafting Jaxon Smith-Njigba over Johnston, Addison, and Zay Flowers has not been fully appreciated by anyone other than Seahawks fans; Flowers may be a good pick, but he’s not JSN
Jalen Carter is a force to be reckoned with…for maybe 600 snaps a year. He got kicked out of a game before the first snap. Carter could be more valuable to the Eagles as a trade chip.
That’s how I’m seeing the 2023 first round so far, but what do you see:
Believe it or not, there are already a lot of question marks lingering from the 2024 and 2025 first round classes and I believe we’ll see some of these players moved in the next six months.