Colts Rookie Takes Over as Nelson Heads to Seattle in Midseason Deal
WHO:
ESPN - Quenton Nelson said the trade was “a little bittersweet,” citing his relationships and community in Indianapolis, but said he was excited for his next chapter.
ESPN - Nelson said he had no say in where he was traded; interim Colts general manager Ed Dodds told him Seattle was among several interested teams.
Seahawks.com - John Schneider has served as Seattle’s general manager for 17 seasons.
Seahawks.com - Quenton Nelson is one of two offensive linemen, along with Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, to earn Pro Bowl honors in each of his first eight NFL seasons.
Seahawks.com - After returning to Seattle last season, Quandre Diggs spent most of the season on the practice squad and provided a veteran presence in the secondary.
Seahawks.com - Grey Zabel said moving to right guard would be a “growing experience” and a chance to learn from Quenton Nelson; Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Seattle considered Zabel’s prior experience at right guard.
Seahawks.com - Anthony Bradford will be the primary backup at both guard positions; Macdonald said Bradford had earned a “starting-level role” and would remain ready to play.
Seahawks.com - Seattle’s 20-3 win over Kansas City ended the Chiefs’ previously unbeaten run.
Seahawks.com - Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 816 receiving yards through seven games, 216 more than the second-ranked receiver, Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, who had 600.
Seahawks.com - Quenton Nelson wore No. 56 in high school, at Notre Dame and with the Colts; Seahawks outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. also wore No. 56.
Seahawks.com - Grey Zabel, Seattle’s 2025 first-round pick, had played left guard; the article said he could potentially move, with Anthony Bradford at right guard or Jalen Sundell at center among the possible lineup implications.
Heavy NFL - Rookie guard Jalen Farmer is expected to take over at left guard for the Indianapolis Colts after eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson was traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
Seahawks.com - Nelson is a 30-year-old guard, a first-round pick in 2018, and a three-time first-team and three-time second-team All-Pro. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight NFL seasons.
Colts.com - Farmer played right guard at Florida and Kentucky. Colts offensive line coach Tony Sparano said, “You don't replace Quenton. It's not about that,” describing Farmer’s starting role as the beginning of “two independent journeys.”
Colts.com - Colts center Tanor Bortolini and guard Matt Goncalves said Farmer had prepared like a starter and was ready for the opportunity. Nelson texted Farmer after learning of the trade and offered to help: “if I need anything to hit him up,” Farmer said.
WHAT:
ESPN - Nelson started 136 games for Indianapolis and was the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft.
ESPN - Nelson joined Seattle wearing No. 53 because Dante Fowler Jr. wore Nelson’s usual No. 56.
ESPN - Nelson’s four-year, $80 million contract extension, signed in 2022, is in its final year. Nelson said he had not thought about his contract situation.
ESPN - Seattle allowed no sacks and two official quarterback hits in its 20-3 win over Kansas City, after allowing 10 sacks and 26 hits across its previous two losses.
ESPN - Seattle left tackle Charles Cross suffered an ankle injury against Kansas City; coach Mike Macdonald said Cross was not practicing, and Seattle did not plan to place him on injured reserve.
NFL.com - Seattle is projected to have five compensatory picks in the 2027 draft and a third-round pick in the 2028 draft.
Seahawks.com - Seattle’s 2010 trade for Marshawn Lynch sent Buffalo a 2011 fourth-round pick and a 2012 fifth-round pick.
Seahawks.com - Seattle acquired Quandre Diggs and a 2021 seventh-round pick from Detroit for a 2020 fifth-round pick.
Seahawks.com - Seattle acquired Carlos Dunlap from Cincinnati for center B.J. Finney and a 2021 seventh-round pick; Dunlap had 82.5 sacks in 11 seasons with the Bengals.
Seahawks.com - Seattle acquired Leonard Williams from the Giants for a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Seahawks.com - Seattle acquired Ernest Jones IV from Tennessee for a 2025 fifth-round pick and linebacker Jerome Baker.
Seahawks.com - Seattle’s divisional-round win over San Francisco was 41-6; Rashid Shaheed also caught a 51-yard pass in the NFC Championship Game.
Seahawks.com - Seattle’s defense won 10 straight games to close out the season, including Super Bowl LX.
Seahawks.com - Seattle will start Nelson at left guard and move Zabel to right guard. Bradford will back up at both guard spots.
Seahawks.com - Seattle’s last in-season offensive-line trade acquisition, Duane Brown, started at left tackle and played every offensive snap less than a week after joining the team.
Seahawks.com - Seattle’s 2025 trade for Rashid Shaheed cost 2026 fourth- and fifth-round picks.
Seahawks.com - Seattle’s 2017 trade for Duane Brown included a 2018 fifth-round pick from Houston; Seattle sent a 2018 third-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick.
Seahawks.com - Seattle acquired a 2021 fifth-round pick by trading Deion Branch to New England in 2010; the team later used it to select K.J. Wright.
Seahawks.com - Carlos Dunlap recorded 13.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hits in 25 games with Seattle.
Seahawks.com - Seattle had 11 playoff appearances, six division titles and three Super Bowl appearances during John Schneider’s 16 seasons as general manager.
Seahawks.com - Marshawn Lynch rushed for at least 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns in each season from 2011 through 2014.
Seahawks.com - Quandre Diggs recorded 14 interceptions, 24 passes defensed and 229 tackles from 2020 through 2022.
Seahawks.com - Leonard Williams recorded 11 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hits in his first full Seattle season; he earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2025.
Seahawks.com - Ernest Jones IV led Seattle in 2025 with 126 tackles and five interceptions.
Seahawks.com - Rashid Shaheed returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Atlanta and a punt 58 yards for a touchdown against the Rams; he also returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in Seattle’s divisional-round playoff win over San Francisco.
Seahawks.com - Seattle acquired Nelson from Indianapolis for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
Colts.com - Farmer had played only three offensive snaps this season before being set to start at left guard against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Seahawks.com - The Seahawks had won the Super Bowl the previous season with Grey Zabel and Anthony Bradford at guard. The article said Seattle could let Nelson play out the final year of his contract before deciding on his future.
Heavy NFL - The Colts were making major changes following a disappointing start to their season.
WHERE:
Colts.com - Farmer was set to make his first NFL start on the road against Jacksonville. The article said Indianapolis had not won there since 2014.
Seahawks.com - The trade sent Nelson from the Colts in Indianapolis to the Seahawks in Seattle.
WHY:
ESPN - Nelson said he had been focused on controlling what he could control and doing his best, leaving the trade decision “up to God.”
Seahawks.com - Seattle’s 2017 acquisition of Duane Brown aimed to stabilize left tackle after Russell Okung left in free agency.
Seahawks.com - Macdonald said the Nelson trade was not criticism of Seattle’s offensive-line personnel; he said the line had played its best game of the season the previous Sunday.
Seahawks.com - The Seahawks said adding Nelson would give them more talented offensive-line depth, regardless of which current starter moved to a reserve role.
Seahawks.com - General manager John Schneider pursued the deal because a player of Nelson’s caliber rarely becomes available and the price was considered manageable. The article said Seattle expected to have several compensatory draft picks.
Colts.com - Farmer said Nelson’s daily attitude—“to attack the day for his teammates”—helped prepare him for the role.
HOW:
ESPN - Nelson described Seattle’s offense as “completely different” from Indianapolis’s and said he needed to learn a new offense, protections and playbook before playing.
NFL.com - Seattle’s edge-rusher options identified by the article included Maxx Crosby, Tuli Tuipulotu, Yaya Diaby, Alex Highsmith, Josh Sweat, Will McDonald IV, Dorance Armstrong Jr., Jacob Martin and Malcolm Koonce.
Colts.com - Matt Goncalves said Farmer competed with him for the starting right-guard role during training camp and the offseason; Goncalves won the job after taking nearly all the first-team reps.
Colts.com - Although Farmer had extensive experience on the right side, the Colts gave him practice reps on both sides of the line, including more left-side than right-side reps during camp, preseason and the season.
Seahawks.com - The Seahawks had previously used in-season trades to acquire Marshawn Lynch, Duane Brown, Quandre Diggs, Carlos Dunlap, Leonard Williams, Ernest Jones IV and Rashid Shaheed.
Seattle acquired eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson from Indianapolis for future draft picks. Nelson called the move bittersweet, but said he’s excited about his next chapter. Seattle will start Nelson at left guard, moving Grey Zabel to right guard.