Quenton Nelson has been traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Seattle Seahawks, with draft pick compensation for Indy reported as a third-rounder in 2027 and a fifth-rounder in 2028.
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The Indianapolis Colts have traded offensive guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks, according to reports that the move is part of a broader Colts trade-deadline sell-off.
The compensation package reported for Indy includes a third-round draft pick in 2027 and a fifth-round draft pick in 2028 from Seattle in exchange for Nelson. The Colts also added a 2027 fourth-round pick after trading defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers, per information attributed in the source.
The source says the Colts are now scheduled to have eight total picks in the 2027 draft, including two in each of rounds three, four and five. For 2028, Indy has eight picks total, with one in each round except the fifth, which would be sent to Seattle; the source also notes a seventh-rounder was traded to the Atlanta Falcons.
Nelson is in the final year of his contract and, according to the source, is still owed $9.8 million for the remainder of the season. Cap-space figures reported in the source indicate Seattle entered the day with $2.9 million available, while the Colts had the fourth-most cap space in the NFL at $29.9 million.
The source reports that, through the early part of the 2026 season, the Seahawks’ offence has struggled to recreate its prior offensive-line performance. According to metrics cited in the source, Seattle ranks 21st in pass-block win rate and 27th in run-block win rate.
After the trade, the source says Nelson is expected to take over at left guard, with Grey Zabel—who has started the first seven games at that spot—moving to the right side. The source also notes that Christian Haynes and Beau Stephens had been struggling at right guard, being charged with eight pressures, including a total of four sacks and quarterback hits allowed, in Week 6 against the Denver Broncos.
The source adds that the Seahawks ranked 17th in rushing yards per game in 2026 after finishing tied for 10th last season, and that blocking issues have contributed to the team’s rushing decline. It also reports that Seattle had the fourth-fewest pass attempts last season, but was at 14th through seven games.
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