Seahawks acquire Quenton Nelson from the Colts for two draft picks

The Seattle Seahawks agreed Tuesday to acquire guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, ESPN and NFL Network reported.

Nelson, 30, has made the Pro Bowl in each of his eight seasons since the Colts took him sixth overall out of Notre Dame in 2018. He is in the final year of his contract, which carries a $16 million base salary in 2026, and he and the Colts did not reach an extension before the season. Indianapolis gets draft capital now instead of watching him walk in March.

The timing follows a shake-up in Indianapolis. The Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard last week, and the personnel department is now led by Ed Dodds, who worked in Seattle from 2007 to 2016. His first big move sends Nelson to his old club and general manager John Schneider. ESPN reported the Colts are likely to put rookie Jalen Farmer into the starting lineup in Nelson's place.

Asked last week about his future, Nelson said, "I have no questions. I leave that up to God and I'm just focused on being my best."

For the defending Super Bowl champions, the move addresses a line that has not held up. Seattle is 4-3 and two games behind the 6-1 49ers in the NFC West. The Seahawks rank 21st in pass block win rate and allowed a combined 10 sacks in losses to San Francisco and Denver before keeping Sam Darnold clean in Sunday night's win over Kansas City. Left tackle Charles Cross is also expected to miss time with the ankle injury he suffered in that game.

Nelson has played only left guard in the NFL. Seattle's current left guard is Grey Zabel, the team's 2025 first-round pick, who played right guard in college. Getting Nelson gives the Seahawks the option of sliding Zabel to the right side, where Anthony Bradford has started since 2023.

Seattle had the picks to spend. The Seahawks are projected to get five compensatory selections in 2027 for losing Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant in free agency, plus another pick after former executive Nolan Teasley became Minnesota's general manager.

What to watch: Whether Seattle moves Zabel to right guard in Nelson's first week, and who replaces Cross at left tackle. The Colts play at Jacksonville this week with Farmer expected to step in.