Which NFL trade deadline blockbuster will have the biggest impact?

2. Duane Brown to the Seahawks

After returning from his long-term holdout, it was pretty obvious the Texans were going to deal Duane Brown, it was just a matter of when and to whom. A day before the trade deadline, the Texans traded Brown to the Seattle Seahawks and a 2018 fifth-round pick in exchange for a 2019 second-round pick and a 2018 third-round pick. The Seahawks originally included cornerback Jeremy Lane in the deal but that fell apart after a failed physical. Nevertheless, Russell Wilson has much-needed help on the offensive line.

The defense has never been the question for the Seahawks. They’ve loaded about as much talent on that side of the ball than any other team. The problems have stemmed with Russell Wilson and the offense. A lot of the issues have revolved around an inconsistent run game but also with the offensive line as well. Wilson had been running for his life in the pocket most of the first half of the season and now he’s got trusted protection on his blind side.

It may look like the Seahawks gave up a lot and that’s very true, but it was warranted. Offensive lineman are prized possessions in the NFL, especially Pro-Bowl left tackles. They’re hard to come by and rarely ever available via trade or free agency. The offensive line still has some questions but they’re certainly shored up on the left side now with Brown and Luke Joeckel.

This isn’t a flashy trade for an offensive skill player but one that’s going to go a long way for the Seahawks. They seem to be improving every week and with how well this defense is playing, they’ve got a chance to make some noise come January. Brown not only provides help in pass protection but sealing the outside on runs as well. The Seahawks are a better team after the trade deadline with this trade and it’ll make an immediate impact.