The Seattle Seahawks are a popular choice to trade back in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s what Pro Football Focus’s Bradley Locker projected Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks to do in his newest NFL mock draft.
But interestingly, Locker’s trade proposal for Seattle greatly helped one of the team’s division rivals.
Locker proposed the Seahawks move down two spots, giving the Arizona Cardinals the No. 32 overall pick. Then at No. 32, the PFF analyst slotted Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson to the Cardinals.
“The Seahawks could retain their first-round slot given their needs at cornerback, edge rusher and running back. But John Schneider has made at least eight picks in each of the last four years — and Seattle currently owns just four,” wrote Locker.
“Here, the Seahawks move down a pair of spots to enable their NFC West rival to select Simpson ahead of the Jets at No. 33. Simpson’s limited starting experience and size very well may drop him until Round 2, but Mike LaFleur and Arizona could like his intermediate precision and work from a clean pocket.”
Would Mike Macdonald Help Cardinals Get Ty Simpson?
GettyPro Football Focus’s Bradley Locker predicted the Seattle Seahawks to make a trade to help the Arizona Cardinals land Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
With only four selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including just one on Day 3, the Seahawks could definitely move back from No. 32 overall.
It may even be likely to happen, and trades involving rivals have become more common in the NFL.
Having said that, it’s still hard to foresee the Seahawks willingly helping a division foe get a quarterback they will have to face twice a season.
If Simpson worked out for the Cardinals, Macdonald could be game-planning for him over the next decade.
Yes, the Cardinals haven’t been much of a threat lately. Next season, the Seahawks have bigger “fish to fry” with the Los Angeles Rams stacking their roster to make a run and the always dangerous San Francisco 49ers.
But that doesn’t mean the Seahawks should be content helping the Cardinals.
As bad as Arizona has been, things can change quickly in the NFL with the right quarterback.
Will Ty Simpson Last Until the No. 32 Overall Pick?
GettyPro Football Focus’s Bradley Locker predicted the Ty Simpson to land with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 32 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The most obvious way the Seahawks could avoid helping the Cardinals is to refuse any trade offer the NFC West rival might make.
But there’s a better scenario for the Seahawks — Simpson not being available late in the first round.
That’s certainly a possibility. The Alabama signal-caller is a polarizing prospect in a weak quarterback class.
Because of the importance of the position and few other options, it wouldn’t be shocking if Simpson is picked early. But he could also fall, potentially even to the second round.
Locker apparently doesn’t see Simpson lasting long into the second round if he gets past No. 32. The New York Jets and Cardinals hold the first two picks of the round — No. 33 and 34 overall.
In the scenario Locker presented, Simpson lands with the Jets at No. 33. That’s why he predicted the Cardinals to make the trade up to No. 32 to get him.
Should that happen, the Seahawks could turn down Arizona’s offer, trying to force Simpson to New York. But the Cardinals could still move ahead of Seattle with a different draft pick trade.
For that reason, a Seahawks-Cardinals trade with Simpson going to Arizona as the end result can’t be completely ruled out. Maybe Arizona offers such a great package of picks the Seahawks can’t say no, especially in a draft where they have few selections.
But it will still seem a little odd if the Seahawks don’t do what they can to prevent the Cardinals from making a potential franchise-changing draft pick.
Seahawks Predicted to Help NFC West Rival Land Potential Franchise QB