THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: To deal, or not to deal? That's the question, John

Decision time.

In more ways than one.

The Seahawks will know in about three weeks if they’re a legitimate threat to the 49ers and Eagles for NFC supremacy — and whether they should make any dramatic moves for a shot at that status.

Test No. 1 comes Sunday, when the Hawks (3-1) visit Cincinnati, where Joe Burrow seems to have regained both his health and form.

A road win over the tough Bengals would place Seattle firmly in a group with the Lions and Cowboys in what is currently the conference’s second tier.

The difference between, say, the scary looking 49ers and everyone else — including the Seahawks — is down in the trenches.

San Francisco makes the highlights every week with Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey doing exciting stuff, but the 49ers’ true dominance is based on the offensive line and thethe defensive front seven.

There are elite players everywhere up there with the big boys slugging it out.

The Eagles, meanwhile, we might call “San Francisco Light” — not quite as talented in the smash-mouth positions, but blessed with a do-everything quarterback in Jalen Hurts.

SO, WHY did we mention three weeks as a litmus test to show us where the Seahawks fit in the chasing pack?

Simple.

The NFL trade deadline is Oct. 31, and by then we’ll know how the Hawks have handled themselves in games against Cincinnati, surprising Arizona and Cleveland.

Please recall that even outright success in that stretch is no guarantee of an eventual postseason run.

This is the season with that schedule from hell, including a gauntlet beginning Nov. 19 that features punchouts with the Rams, 49ers, Dallas, 49ers again and Philadelphia.

It would take something sensational to mount a title charge in a year where the rotating schedule came up snake-eyes for the Seahawks — yet we’ve seen signs in the season’s first few weeks that the Hawks may have the makings of a really unique team.

If the Seahawks go win at Cincinnati, you can be assured that Pete Carroll, GM John Schneider and assorted staff will spend time reviewing tapes and trying to decide what pieces might be juggled to acquire genuine help prior to the trade deadline.

Let’s look.

Seattle is pretty much set on offense.

The skill positions are outstanding — assuming Geno Smith doesn’t veer off the rails —and the offensive line, which has featured so many backups by necessity, has been a hugely pleasant surprise.

The Hawks even have three outstanding tight ends.

On the other side of the ball, the secondary should be dominant — with rookie Devon Witherspoon already showing why he was worth the fifth pick in the draft, and with Jamal Adams due back after clearing a concussion protocol.

The issue, and this is hardly a secret, concerns the defensive front seven.

With Bobby Wagner home from his one-season hiatus to Los Angeles, the Seahawks are back to stuffing the run.

Carroll loves that, and feels it’s how you begin building a defense that can think about Super Bowls.

Look at the 49ers.

And even though they get little publicity on a team with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce (and Taylor Swift), the Chiefs’ two recent Super Bowl wins have been locked down by their defenders.

Chris Jones alone occupies two and sometimes three blockers, and still gets home in crucial passing situations.

SO, WE’LL be more specific, now that Jones is in the conversation.

The Seahawks can’t rise to serious NFC contender status without a more potent pass rush.

Seattle has useful vets like Uchenna Nwosu, and some young players with impact potential on the outside — Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor and rookie Derick Hall.

Remember, also, that Adams set an NFL record for sacks from the secondary with 9 1/2 three years ago. Still, this group appears to need some star-level help to make the kind of difference Seattle needs.

Shall we talk trades, then?

There are a handful of teams that are off to miserable starts, and already are thinking of blowing up entire rosters for a fresh start in 2024.

Within that group, you can find some premium pass-rushers who could be available.

The first who comes to mind for me is Minnesota’s DE/LB Danielle Hunter, a ninth-year vet who will turn 29 on the 29th of this month.

WITH THE Vikings in collapse mode, most of the noise in the Twin Cities has concerned unloading QB Kirk Cousins — but Hunter would be a massive prize.

The youngest player in NFL history to record 50 sacks, he now has 78 in 107 games, including six in five games this year.

He’s been consistently productive, a long (6-foot-6) and lean (262) presence who has routinely given Minnesota everything but peace in the front office — and clearly needs a change of scenery.

Hunter has squabbled with the Vikes over salary almost every year, and he’s now on a one-year deal for $20 million that will make him a free agent in 2024.

Obviously, you’d have to work out a sign-and-trade to acquire Hunter, but this is the kind of player who could change the Seahawks defense at a single stroke.

The trade part might not be so difficult, but Seattle would need to do some wiggling to find cap space in order to land a big-money player.

Worth the trouble?

For one of the best pass rushers in the game?

If you say no, you’re joking.

By the way, he’s been linked with the 49ers, who really need ANOTHER all-world rush monster (and have $40 million in available cap space).

Gulp.

Find a way, John.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”