Seahawks WATCH: Seattle's Joke Draft Trade for Panthers No. 1 Pick: 'Why Not?'

The Seattle Seahawks were busier than most teams in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft this past April, as they had to prepare for multiple scenarios at the No. 5 and No. 20 overall picks to help capitalize on what coach Pete Carroll called "a rare opportunity."

But before all the chaos that came in the four picks prior to Seattle's No. 5 pick, Seahawks general manager John Schneider took a second to dial up an old friend right as the draft was beginning.

As Carolina was about to make the No. 1 pick to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, Schneider called Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer to poke fun at the idea of a potential trade.

Obviously just a joke between two old friends, Fitterer laughed it off and informed Panthers owner David A. Tepper of Schneider's "trade request."

"Sure. Why not, John?" Tepper said.

Take a look:

#Seahawks GM John Schneider jokingly called #Panthers GM Scott Fitterer to see if they'd trade the No. 1 overall pick on draft night.

Fitterer and Schneider worked together in Seattle for over a decade and are close friends.

(via @Panthers YT)pic.twitter.com/Zw25VwLMe8
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 28, 2023

Fitterer joined the Seahawks as an area scout in 2001 before moving all the way up to Seattle's vice president of football operations in 2020. He was hired to be Carolina's GM in 2021, and helped orchestrate the blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears that helped the Panthers land the No. 1 pick.

Fitterer is on a new journey in Carolina, but clearly still has a strong relationship with Schneider and the Seahawks given the timeliness of the joke.

The Seahawks would go on to select cornerback Devon Witherspoon and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba later in the first round. Now, Schneider and staff will be hoping Witherspoon is ready to pick-off Young by the time the Panthers and Fitterer make the journey to Lumen Field for a matchup between the two teams in Week 3.

You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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