Report: Seahawks trade Colts for 8-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson

The Seattle Seahawks are making a splash two weeks before the NFL trade deadline, reportedly agreeing to a deal with the Indianapolis Colts for eight-time Pro Bowl offensive guard Quenton Nelson.

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Per NFL insider Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix, the Seahawks are sending a 2027 third-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick to the Colts in the trade.

The trade was first reported by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter on Tuesday morning.

The 30-year-old Nelson is set to be a free agent after this season. Seahawks general manager/president of football operations John Schneider has made a habit of midseason trades for veteran players on expiring contracts and then signing them to long-term deals, as he did with star defensive tackle Leonard Williams (2023), linebacker Ernest Jones IV (2024) and wide receiver/return man Rashid Shaheed (2025).

Nelson is in the final year of a four-year, $80 million contract, and is making a base salary of $16 million this year. He carries a salary cap hit of just under $9.9 million for 2026. According to Over the Cap, the Seahawks had nearly $13.5 million in cap space prior to the reported trade for Nelson.

The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Nelson was the No. 6 overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. A native of New Jersey, he has played all seven games this season for the Colts and has missed just four regular season games in his career, all of which came in 2021.

Nelson has been a Pro Bowler in each of his eight pro seasons entering this year, was a first team All-Pro in his first three seasons, and was named a second team All-Pro in 2021, 2024 and 2025.

Nelson has played left guard almost exclusively in the NFL. Seattle has played Grey Zabel at the position since he was drafted in the first round in 2025. The Seahawks had been without right guard Anthony Bradford from Week 2 until his return in Sunday’s 20-3 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The addition of Nelson should have a big impact on Seattle’s running game, which ranks 17th in the NFL with 113.7 rushing yards per game and is tied for 23rd with 3.9 yards per carry.

What a steal!! This shows a true commitment to the run. A big move at a position I wasn’t expecting 🤯. Will they still go after a RB? https://t.co/xZ1zLUynRs

— Michael Bumpus (@michaelbumpus5) October 27, 2026

Nelson should also give Seattle a boost in pass protection. The Seahawks have allowed 16 sacks (tied for 13th most in the NFL) for a total of 119 yards lost (tied for ninth most) this season.

The NFL trade deadline is at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

We will have more on the Seahawks’ reported trade for Nelson throughout the day here on SeattleSports.com.

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