THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Seahawks go London calling for guy who can help stop the run

It wasn’t a sexy trade. 

But that wasn’t likely. 

You’re not generally going to acquire a headliner when all you give away is a sixth-round draft pick in 2026. 

That’s just a step from taking a nearly anonymous big fella off waivers — but not a giant step. 

In fact, the most fascinating part of the deal for defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris is that the Seahawks are reaching across the Atlantic to land him. 

The Hawks’ deal is with Jacksonville, and the minor curiosity here is that the Jags just played the Bears in London (Robertson-Harris, a former Bear, got a sack of Chicago rookie QB Caleb Williams), and are staying in England to play the Jets. 

The Seahawks, who are getting desperate for sluggers at the line of scrimmage, put their new lineman on a plane and expect that Robertson-Harris will join the team for practice on Wednesday. 

Seattle will have to move someone off the 53-man active roster, with DT Myles Adams being a decent guess at this stage. 

One of the plus points with Robertson-Harris is that he has a history of suiting up — and the Seahawks need warm bodies at this time of the year.

IN FACT, Robertson-Harris has proved he can get out and play week after week, which is a major advantage for NFL lineman. 

It’s a rough business. 

But Robertson-Harris, who is listed at 6-3, 295 pounds, fought his way into the league as an undrafted free agent from UTEP in 2016 — landing with the Bears, where he played four seasons. 

He has played in 106 total games with 62 starts, including playing in all six this year with two starts, having made seven tackles with four QB hits.  

He started all 17 games for the Jags in 2022 and 2023. 

That sort of consistency is a dream for defensive coaches, especially when it appears that Robertson-Harris is ready to go to work every week. 

The Seahawks need that sort of depth. 

Seattle is 28th in the league against the run (allowing an average of a healthy 5.0 yards per carry), and already has had to use makeshift lineups due to injuries. 

New coach Mike Macdonald is considered a wizard at moving defenders around to get the most out of his units, but his back is to the wall if there simply aren’t enough players to put up a fight. 

Landing a versatile veteran like Robertson-Harris — he’s comfortable at guard and tackle — should ease the Hawks’ lack of troops. 

THE LINE looked like an area of strength when the Seahawks got to camp. 

But coach/humorist Jerry Glanville made a classic line famous: “The NFL stands for ‘not for long’ if you keep screwing up.” 

A combination of injuries and underperformance turned the defensive line into an area of worry. 

It will be interesting to see where the Hawks put Robertson-Harris, who has played everywhere along the line — mostly in down positions at tackle and end, and at times standing up as an edge rusher.  

Robertson-Harris has played 210 snaps for the Jags this year, 140 coming on passing downs, 65 on running downs, according to Pro Football Focus. 

He’s made seven tackles with two sacks, one in Sunday’s loss to the Bears in London. 

He had a below-average 52.2 run defense grade this year from PFF but last year he graded at 73.9, his best. 

They’ll need it. 

First-round draft choice Byron Murphy II has missed three games with a hamstring issue, and the line’s standout vet, Leonard Williams, sat out against Detroit with a rib problem. 

That’s the kind of problem that can recur, so the Hawks were crying out for help. 

They reached all the way to London for the guy they wanted. 

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.”