We've hit a bit of a lull in the offseason when the initial free-agency frenzy has quieted down a bit, but the draft is still a few weeks away, which makes now a great time to open up the mailbag and answer some questions from you, the fans. As always, thanks to everyone who asked questions this week, and apologies I couldn't get to your question this time around.

@Travis94914418 asks, "If the Saints liked a QB at No. 9 would you want to see the Seahawks trade if New Orleans gave up both their firsts?"

A: Yes, the Seahawks' history under John Schneider and Pete Carroll suggests that a trade back is very possible, but it is worth noting that the last time the team had a Top 10 pick—No. 6 overall in 2010—Seattle used that pick to select left tackle Russell Okung. As Schneider has noted on a few occasions, the Seahawks have traded back from late first-round picks in some years because they don't have first-round grades on 20-some players, meaning if they were to pick at, say, No. 26, they'd be getting a player on whom they'd placed a second-round grade. In other words. In all likelihood the Seahawks will have a very high grade on a player or several players when the No. 9 pick rolls around, so in theory they should be happy to pick there. That being said, if a team behind Seattle is eager to move up, or if the Seahawks had, say, four players available that they viewed as being equal prospects, then yes, they certainly could move back.

As for your specific scenario, the Saints, who have picks No. 16 and 19, are in good position to move up should they decide to do so to get a quarterback or any other position. But in your scenario, if the Saints were going to send those picks to Seattle for No. 9, they'd surely want more in return from Seattle to balance out the trade. While there is no official trade value chart teams are held to, teams do use various charts that assign points to trades to at least establish a baseline for trades, and No. 16 and 19 would be valued quite a bit higher, point wise, than No. 9.

@seahawksrevere1 asks, "What position do you feel would be most important to draft at No. 9 for Seattle this year?"

A: If the draft were today, and obviously it isn't, I'd probably point to tackle seeing as the Seahawks have only three tackles on the roster, 2021 sixth-round pick Stone Forsythe, 2021 undrafted rookie addition Jake Curhan and Greg Eiland, another undrafted rookie from last year's class who spent the season on the practice squad. The Seahawks see a lot of upside in Forsythe, who was one of college football's best pass-blocking left tackles in a loaded SEC, and Curhan played well filling in at right tackle late last season, but even if the Seahawks have the utmost confidence in those two, they would still need to add depth and competition to that group.

But again, the draft is still several weeks away, and both of last year's starting tackles, Duane Brown and Brandon Shell, remain unsigned as free agents. If both of those players or even one were to re-sign with Seattle, or if the Seahawks were to sign another starting-caliber tackle in free agency between now and the end of the month, that position becomes less of a need heading into the draft.

Carroll mentioned improving the pass rush as a top priority, and the Seahawks have a history of using top picks on pass rushers, so that's obviously another option. And of course, given the importance of the position, quarterback has to at least be a consideration if the Seahawks feel strongly about one of the available options there, but the presence of Drew Lock on the roster, as well as the possible re-signing of Geno Smith—Carroll has repeatedly said he hopes to see that happen—should keep the Seahawks from forcing a pick at that position.

@wenfont asks, "Do you think the Seahawks will either draft a quarterback or trade for one?" And Jon Ingalls from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho asks, "What are the chances the Seahawks add a seasoned quarterback in addition to a possible rookie via the draft?"

A: Whether it's signing a free agent quarterback, trading for one or drafting one, I fully expect the Seahawks to add to that position even if they do re-sign Smith. Carroll himself said as much at the NFL Annual Meeting, noting the Seahawks are "definitely still in the quarterback business" even if Smith does come back. That doesn't mean the Seahawks will force the issue in the first round, but unless a significant addition is made via free agency or trade prior to the draft, I would expect a quarterback to be selected at some point.

"We are totally in that mentality that the fourth guy may be important to us," Carroll said. "We're definitely still in the quarterback business."

Dennis Piepel from Spokane asks, "Why don't we hear anything about Jacob Eason in the QB Battle? He seems like an unknown commodity and could have as high of a ceiling as Drew Lock since he has such good physical tools."

A: Because Eason joined the team as an in-season waiver claim, he didn't really get the full chance to show what he could do in a training camp or preseason setting—backups just don't get a lot of first-team reps during the season—but you're right that the strong-armed former Husky quarterback does have a lot of upside.

For now, you're going to hear more about Lock, A. because the Seahawks just acquired him in a trade, and B. because he has significantly more starting experience in the NFL, which in theory gives him the leg up for now. That being said, Carroll has made it clear he wants an open competition for the quarterback job this summer, and depending on who all is added between now and then, Eason figures to get a good look in camp to state his case.

@KuhlHawkfan asks, "Who is the best seventh-round pick in Seahawks history?"

A: Seahawks fans will no-doubt remember some more recent seventh-round picks like running back Chris Carson, guard J.R. Sweezy and linebacker Malcolm Smith, a Super Bowl MVP. But when we're talking about the best Seahawks career for a seventh-round pick, that has to go to longtime safety John Harris, a 1978 draft pick who started 112 games for Seattle over eight seasons. Harris' career was somewhat overshadowed due to sharing a secondary with a pair of Ring of Honor members, cornerback Dave Brown and Hall of Fame safety Kenny Easley, but Harris was an important part of some of Seattle's first playoff teams and some really good defenses. In eight seasons, Brown piled up an impressive 41 interceptions, including 10 in 1981, a total that set a franchise record Easley would later tie on his way to NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1984.

My co-worker @grahamkins asks, "My daughter turns one later this month, when should I expect gray hairs?"

A: I presume you're asking this since I have so many gray hairs already—seriously, my 4-year-old asked the other day, "Daddy, why does your beard have white hair and dark hair?" Gee, thanks, sweetie. And the best answer I can give you is soon if it hasn't already started. As you're no doubt discovering over the last 11 months, kids age you fast, and that process will only accelerate in a year or so when the dreaded terrible twos—which definitely don't end when they turn three, by the way—bring with them all those fun tantrums and meltdowns. Good luck.

Also, my desk is like 20 feet from yours if you just want to come over here next time you have a parenting question.

Imelda Guzman from Gilbert, Arizona asks, "All Seahawks retired numbers are players who spent their entire career with the Seahawks. Do you think No. 3 will make it up in the Lumen Field rafters even if Russell Wilson ends his career somewhere else?"

A: You are correct that, other than the No. 12, which was retired for the fans, all of Seattle's other retired numbers were worn by players who spent their entire Hall of Fame careers in Seattle: Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones and Kenny Easley. But while it has so far been the case, Seahawks president Chuck Arnold noted on a recent appearance on Sports Radio 93.3 KJR "That's just the way that it's worked out so far, but there really is no hard and fast rule for that."

So yes, when we're talking about the best quarterback in franchise history, a player who holds nearly every team passing record and was a nine-time Pro-Bowler, I do think we'll see No. 3 hanging in the rafters when all is said and done, and that almost surely also be the case for Bobby Wagner's No. 54, and perhaps a few other numbers worn by recent players.

A whole bunch of you asked about trading for a quarterback, and in particular about a certain mustachioed character who happened to star at an in-state college.

A: I completely understand all of these questions and they're absolutely relevant, and I'd like you all to know your questions aren't being ignored. However, it is not really appropriate for a team website to be speculating about players currently under contract with other teams. In other words, this is a no-tampering team website. In general terms, however, it's safe to assume that John Schneider and company are looking into every possible avenue for acquiring players at every position, quarterback included, and that does include possible trades.

@RamblinRob2 asks, "How many times do you think we'll trade back?"

A: How many? I don't know, maybe two or three, maybe none. And it's also entirely possible that the Seahawks trade up at some point. With as much draft ammunition as they have, the Seahawks could easily move up in the second or even into the late first round if there were a player they really liked, particularly if, say, they moved back from No. 9 a few slots and added more picks. I'm not about to start making predictions on what the final draft haul will look like, but it's safe to assume, based on their history, that the Seahawks will be active when it comes to making draft trades.

@markrootshawks asks, "When does your mock draft publish?"

A: I don't pretend to be a draft expert and do not do a mock draft, however, we do have at Seahawks.com weekly mock draft trackers that catch you up on what a lot of the experts are predicting. Also, this is a great time to plug the exciting news that this year we have added Rob Rang, one of the very best in the draft business, to our pre-draft coverage. Rob will provide several stories over the next few weeks (check out his first one here), and the week of the draft he will provide a Seahawks mock draft making predictions for all eight of Seattle's picks.