Do Seahawks need to counter Rams’ blockbuster move?

After going toe to toe as the clear-cut two best teams in the NFL last season, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams have taken different approaches to the offseason.

Reaction: How Rams’ blockbuster Myles Garrett trade impacts Seahawks

The Seahawks have taken the quieter path, placing an emphasis on retaining talent from their Super Bowl-winning team and strategically plugging holes through the NFL Draft and free agency.

The Rams, meanwhile, have dominated headlines with blockbuster moves.

In March, the Rams addressed their issues in the secondary by trading for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and signing free agent cornerback Jaylen Watson.

And on Monday, the Rams sent shockwaves through the football world by trading for two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, who is coming off a record-breaking 23-sack campaign in 2025.

With the Rams adding the NFL’s premier pass rusher, do the Seahawks need to counter with a big move of their own?

Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus addressed that question during Monday’s Four Down Territory on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy.

“I don’t think (Seahawks head coach) Mike Macdonald is looking at this trade and saying, oh my gosh, what are we going to do?” Bumpus said. “I think Mike Macdonald believes in his system, his program, his coaches, his players, and … they’re going to put them in position to win ballgames.”

‘I ain’t flinching’

Super Bowl champions typically see their rosters get raided the following offseason, but the Seahawks did an impressive job of retaining talent. By snap counts, they are set to return 14 of their top 15 offensive players, 14 of their top 17 defensive players and 15 of their top 16 special teams players.

For what few players the Seahawks did lose, they found potential replacements in either the draft or free agency. They spent their first three draft picks on running back Jadarian Price, safety Bud Clark and cornerback Julian Neal, and then added veteran edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. in a post-draft free agency signing.

And of course, the Seahawks still have Macdonald – who is widely considered the NFL’s best defensive play caller.

That being said, the Seahawks have the resources to make a splashy move.

According to Over The Cap, Seattle has $28.8 million in salary cap space for 2026, which ranks 10th-most in the league.

The Seahawks also are projected to have 12 picks in the 2027 draft. That includes a projected four compensatory picks for their top free agent departures this offseason, plus a reported third-round compensatory pick for assistant general manager Nolan Teasley being hired as the Minnesota Vikings’ GM.

But if the Seahawks decide to stand pat, Bumpus is confident in their personnel and coaching staff.

“If I’m the Seahawks, I ain’t flinching,” Bumpus said. “I ain’t scared, because I believe in what Mike Macdonald is doing over here.”

An even bigger chip on their shoulder?

Bumpus believes the offseason hype around the Rams – which will only be turbocharged with Garrett’s addition – could add even more fuel for the Seahawks as they aim to become just the third repeat Super Bowl champion this century.

“Did the Rams get better? Yes, they did,” Bumpus said. “But I think that it continues to build the chip on the shoulder of the Seahawks as well. Because with this move right here, all across the country, people are going to be talking about how the Rams got that much better and they are clearly Super Bowl favorites.

“So what does it do to the Seahawks? They’re paying attention. They’re looking across the street and seeing what’s going on. But I don’t think there’s any panic over there. I don’t think there’s any hesitation in what they’re doing.”

Listen to the full Four Down Territory segment at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune into Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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