Heaps: Once again, Seahawks need pass rush help at trade deadline

The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching and the Seahawks at 2-5 could use some help if they’re going to turn a corner and make the playoffs.

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Former NFL quarterback Jake Heaps shared his thoughts on the upcoming trade deadline and what the Seahawks could do during Thursday’s edition of Jake and Stacy on 710 ESPN Seattle.

“Well, the needs have changed for the Seahawks,” he said. “The focus has been corner. … And you look at (rookie cornerback) Tre Brown and still, the jury’s out. We don’t know how that ultimately is going to shake out when you go up against Arizona Cardinals, you go up against the Green Bay Packers. Is that still going to be a glaring issue for you?”

While it’s unclear what a cornerback tandem of Brown and D.J. Reed looks like long-term, Heaps said it is clear where the Seahawks for sure need help.

“If you’re going to make a trade at the deadline, it is going to be for your pass rush again,” he said.

No, this isn’t a replay of Heaps from 2019 or 2020. This is the 2021 Seahawks we’re talking about.

Yes, once again, the Seahawks’ pass rush simply isn’t getting it done when it comes to pressuring and sacking opposing signal callers.

Through seven games, not only are the Seahawks 2-5, but they are among the 10 worst teams in the NFL when it comes to registering sacks with just 13. Of those 13, Darrell Taylor has four and Rasheem Green has two.

“Unfortunately, again, we are talking about this pass rush and how there needs to be outside help brought in to improve this group,” Heaps said. “And right now you’re not getting it done from the guys that you acquired or that you re-signed this last offseason outside of Darrell Taylor. If there’s a way that you can upgrade this team it is by getting that pass rush.”

The Seahawks re-signed Carlos Dunlap and Benson Mayowa this offseason and added Kerry Hyder Jr. to the mix. That trio has just two sacks combined between the three of them. And star safety Jamal Adams, the highest-paid safety in football, has no sacks after leading the Seahawks with 9.5 a year ago.

Heaps thinks the pass rush is key to the defense truly turning a corner, which is what happened midway through last season, largely because of a trade for Dunlap and the emergence of Adams.

“We saw a significant jump statistically from this defense when they actually started getting after the quarterback last season,” Heaps said. “That has not happened (in 2021), so that is a big, big glaring hole that they have to address.”

Is there any names we should be keeping an eye on for the Seahawks?

“Melvin Ingram out there is apparently not happy with his percentage of plays, his play percentage going down (with the Pittsburgh Steelers), so maybe that’s a candidate,” Heaps said. “But I have a hard time seeing the Seahawks being able to win that bidding war.”

Listen to the second hour of Thursday’s Jake and Stacy at this link or in the player below.

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