The 2025 trade deadline takes place on November 4 at 1:00 p.m. PST, and while it won’t necessarily be the Cardinals making big-time splashes, it is noteworthy to report that one of their division rivals is taking calls on two marquee defenders that have contributed to the team’s success.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that the Seattle Seahawks have received interest from teams regarding edge rusher Boye Mafe and cornerback Riq Woolen. Both players are set to hit free agency this offseason.
Schefter pointed out that Seattle has players still on rookie contracts who will receive a large payday when their time is up. General manager John Schneider knows that he can’t afford to keep everyone around long-term, and difficult decisions will have to be made regarding the roster.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Charles Cross, and Devon Witherspoon were all listed by Schefter as potential candidates for extensions the next two seasons. Seattle has the eighth-most cap space in the league but will lose a lot of it when these three are due for second contracts.
Schneider has the opportunity to get ahead of what would be inevitable departures and trade away some of his stars that he would have to let walk in the offseason. The only dilemma he has is that the team sits at 5–2 and is tied for first in the NFC West.
Trading away Mafe and Woolen would set the defense back, but it would help the team in the future, as the Seahawks would receive a solid amount of draft capital in return.
The Seahawks’ defense ranks in the top ten in points per game, and Mafe and Woolen have been a huge part of that success. But in order to keep impact players around long-term, it means cutting ties with fan favorites. An interesting development on Saturday night, and it will be intriguing to see how John Schneider addresses this.