Looking back on a decade of Seahawks’ drafts

In the same vein as the recently published piece on the past decade of Raven’s drafts, I thought it would be interesting to look at how another of the top teams in the league - the Seattle Seahawks - have drafted over that span. Of course, this one is a little more painful: The Seahawks’ GM over that timeframe has been John Schneider, one of several talents that Dan Snyder let get away in his tenure here. Schneider was the Redskins’ VP of Player Personnel in 2001.

This piece will follow the same format as the Ravens’ piece, with “career AV” values - as a rough estimate of player productiveness - in parentheses for the players selected at various picks throughout this article.

As one additional point of comparison, the Seahawks had 97 picks over the course of the past 10 drafts, as compared to the Redskins’ 88 picks. (In the 3rd and 4th rounds, the comparison is 30 to 23 picks, respectively).

2010

In 2009, the Seahawks were terrible, finishing 5-11, which secured them the #6 pick in the 2010 NFL draft. With that pick, they selected Russell Okung (CAV 68).

The Seahawks held off trading in the draft until Day 3, but made multiple trades at that point. Seattle traded back from 104, sending that pick and 176 to the Titans for 111 and 185, as well as LenDale White and Kevin Vickerson (neither of whom ever appear to have played for the Seahawks).

• 104 (Titans) - Alterraun Verner (CAV 37)
• 176 (Titans) - Rusty Smith (CAV 1)
• 111 (Seahawks) - Walter Thurmond (CAV 12)
• 185 (Seahawks) - Anthony McCoy (CAV 4)
• LenDale White (AV post 2009 - 0)
• Kevin Vickerson (AV post 2009 - 21)

They traded back again later in the draft, this time with the Jets, sending 139 to NY for 236 and Leon Washington (RB).

• 139 (Jets) - John Conner (CAV 0)
• 236 (Seahawks) - Dexter Davis (CAV 1)
• Leon Washington (AV post 2009 - 9)

During the 2010 season, the Seahawks went 7-9, improbably winning the NFC West and then beating the Saints in the wildcard round. They eventually lost to the Bears in the divisional game.

2011

Their 2010 finish earned the Seahawks the 25th pick in the 2011 draft. With that selection, Seattle picked James Carpenter (CAV 50).

On Day 2, the Seahawks traded back with the Lions, sending picks 57, 157, and 209 for 75, 107, 154, and 205.

• 57 (Lions) - Mikel Leshoure (CAV 5)
• 157 (Lions ) - Doug Hogue (CAV 2)
• 209 (Lions) - Johnny Culbreath (CAV 0)
• 75 (Seahawks) - John Moffitt (CAV 7)
• 107 (Seahawks) - Kris Durham (CAV 5)
• 154 (Seahawks) - Richard Sherman (CAV 103)
• 205 (Seahawks) - Lazarius Levingston (CAV 0)

In 2011, the Seahawks again finished 7-9, but this time weren’t fortunate enough to make the playoffs.

2012

Their middling finish the previous season netted the Seahawks the number 12 pick in the 2012 draft. With that pick, they traded down with the Eagles, and they received 15, 114, 172.

• 12 (Eagles) - Fletcher Cox (CAV 88)
• 15 (Seahawks ) - Bruce Irvin (CAV 48)
• 114 (Seahawks ) - Jaye Howard (CAV 18)
• 172 (Seahawks ) - Jeremy Lane (CAV 12)

They then traded back on Day 2 as well, offering up 43 for 47, 154, and 232 from the Jets.

• 43 (Jets) - Stephen Hill (CAV 4)
• 47 (Seahawks) - Bobby Wagner (CAV 112)
• 154 (Seahawks ) - Korey Toomer (CAV 12)
• 232 (Seahawks ) - Greg Scruggs (CAV 1)

In 2012, the Seahawks went 11-5 and beat our fair Redskins in the wildcard round - the infamous RG3 obliteration game. They then went on to lose in the divisional round to the Falcons.

2013

In 2013, the Seahawks had the 25th pick in the draft, but they traded that pick, 214, and their 2014 third rounder to the Vikings for Percy Harvin. This ended up being a terrible trade for the Seahawks.

• 25 (Vikings) - Xavier Rhodes (CAV 46)
• 214 (Vikings) - Travis Bond (CAV 0)
• 2014 3rd Rounder (Vikings) - Jerick McKinnon (CAV 22)
• Percy Harvin (AV Post 2012 - 12)

On Day 2, the Seahawks traded down with the Ravens, sending 56 to Baltimore and receiving 62, 165, and 199.

• 56 (Ravens) - Arthur Brown (CAV 3)
• 62 (Seahawks) - Christine Michael (CAV 9)
• 165 and 199 were used to trade up with the Lions to 137
• 137 (Seahawks) - Jesse Williams (CAV 0)
• 165 (Lions) - Sam Martin (CAV 17)
• 199 (Lions) - Theo Riddick (CAV 26)

The Seahawks went 13-3 and won the Super Bowl during the 2013 season.

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

2014

As the Super Bowl winner in 2013, the Seahawks received the 32nd pick in the 2014 draft. The traded back with the Vikings, receiving picks 40 and 108.

• 32 (Vikings) - Teddy Bridgewater (CAV 28)
• 40 (Seahawks) - Traded down with pick 146 to the Lions for picks 45, 111, and 227.
• 108 (Seahawks) - Cassius Marsh (CAV 12)

Secondary trade down:

• 40 (Lions) - Kyle Van Noy (CAV 37)
• 146 (Lions) - Traded away to the Cowboys
• 45 (Seahawks) - Paul Richardson (CAV 15)
• 111 (Seahawks) - Traded to the Bengals
• 227 (Seahawks) - Kiero Small (CAV 0)

Tertiary trade town:

• 111 (Bengals) - Russell Bodine (CAV 31)
• 123 (Seahawks) - Kevin Norwood (CAV 1)
• 199 (Seahawks) - Garrett Scott (CAV 0)

During the 2014 season, the Seahawks went 12-4 and narrowly lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.

2015

The Seahawks received the 31st pick in the 2015 draft, and traded that pick and Max Unger to the Saints for Jimmy Graham and pick 112.

• 31 (Saints) - Stephone Anthony (CAV 11)
• Max Unger (CAV post 2014 - 39)
• 112 (Seahawks) - Traded to Washington
• Jimmy Graham (CAV post 2014 - 27)

On Day 2, the Seahawks traded up with the Redskins, getting pick 69 for picks 95, 112, 167, and 181.

• 69 (Seahawks) - Tyler Lockett (CAV 40)
• 95 (Redskins) - Matt Jones (CAV 10)
• 112 (Redskins) - Arie Kouandijo (CAV 4)
• 167 (Redskins) - Traded to Saints for 187 (Evan Spencer; CAV 0) and a 2016 6th round pick - Nate Sudfeld (CAV 1)
• 181 (Redskins) - Kyshoen Jarrett (CAV 2)

The Seahawks went 10-6 during the 2015 season and won a wildcard game against the Vikings. They lost in the divisional round to the Panthers.

2016

In the 2016 draft, the Seahawks received the 26th pick in the draft and proceeded to trade it to the Broncos for picks 31 and 94.

• 26 (Broncos) - Paxton Lynch (CAV 2)
• 31 (Seahawks) - Germain Ifedi (CAV 29)
• 94 (Seahawks) - Nick Vannett (CAV 5)

On Day 2, the Seahawks traded up with the Bears, giving picks 56 and 124 for pick 49.

• 49 (Seahawks) - Jarran Reed (CAV 23)
• 56 (Bears) - Cody Whitehair (CAV 27)
• 124 (Bears) - Deon Bush (CAV 5)

On Day 3, they traded up with Patriots, sending pick 225 and 2017 4th rounder for picks 147 and 243.

• 147 (Seahawks) - Quinton Jefferson (CAV 12)
• 243 (Seahawks) - Kenny Lawler (CAV 0)
• 225 (Patriots) - Devin Lucien (CAV 0)
• 2017 4th rounder - Deatrich Wise Jr (CAV 12)

During the 2016 season, the Seahawks went 10-5-1, beating the Lions in the wildcard round. They then lost to the Falcons in the divisional round.

2017

In 2016, the Seahawks earned the 26th pick in the draft, and for the 6th year in a row, they traded their first round pick. This time it was with the Falcons, in exchange for picks 31, 95, and 249.

• 26 (Falcons) - Takkarist McKinley (CAV 12)
• 31 (Seahawks) - Traded to the 49ers for picks 34 and 111. (Reuben Foster; CAV 8)
• 34 (Seahawks) - Traded to the Jags for picks 35 and 187 (Cam Robinson; CAV 16)
• 35 (Seahawks) - Malik McDowell (CAV 0)
• 95 (Seahawks) - Lano Hill (CAV 5)
• 111 (Seahawks) - Tedric Thompson (CAV 8)
• 187 (Seahawks) - Mike Tyson (CAV 1)
• 249 (Seahawks) - Chris Carson (CAV 22)

This is one of the most fascinating draft trade cascades that I’ve ever seen. The Seahawks traded back twice in the first, once in the early second, and the best player in the whole bundle of transactions was the last one taken, Chris Carson, a 7th rounder. The Seahawks earliest pick, McDowell, was a complete bust. It’s certainly a testament to the power of numbers in draft picking.

In 2017, the Seahawks went 9-7 and ended up missing the playoffs.

2018

As a result of their 2017 season, the Seahawks received the 18th pick in the draft. For the 7th straight year, they traded that pick. This time they traded with the Packers (including pick 248), receiving picks 27, 76, and 186.

• 18 (Packers) - Jaire Alexander (CAV 11)
• 248 (Packers) - Kendall Donnerson (CAV 0)
• 27 (Seahawks) - Rashaad Penny (CAV 7)
• 76 (Seahawks) - Traded to the Steelers (Mason Rudolph; CAV 3) for picks 79 and 220
• 79 (Seahawks) - Rasheem Green (CAV 5)
• 186 (Seahawks) - Jacob Martin (CAV 3)
• 220 (Seahawks) - Alex McGough (CAV 0)

The Seahawks later traded up with the Broncos, sending Denver 149 for picks 156 and 226.

• 149 (Seahawks) - Michael Dickson (CAV 5)
• 156 (Broncos) - Troy Fumagalli (CAV 0)
• 226 (Broncos) - David Williams (CAV 0)

The Seahawks were 10-6 in 2018 and ending up making the playoffs but losing in the wildcard game to the Cowboys.

2019

In 2019, the Seahawks had the 21st selection and, for the 8th straight year, they traded that pick. As they had in 2018, they traded back with the Packers, collecting picks 30, 114, and 118.

• 21 (Packers) - Darnell Savage (CAV 5)
• 30 (Seahawks) - Traded with the Giants (Deandre Baker; CAV 5) for 37, 132, and 142
• 37 (Seahawks) - Traded with the Panthers (Greg Little; CAV 1) for picks 47 and 77
• 47 (Seahawks) - Marquise Blair (CAV 2)
• 77 (Seahawks) - Involved in a trade to be described below
• 114 (Seahawks) - Traded with the Vikings (Dru Samia; CAV 0) for picks 120 and 204
• 118 (Seahawks) - Involved in a trade to be described below
• 120 (Seahawks) - Gary Jennings Jr (CAV 0)
• 132 (Seahawks) - Ugochukwu Amadi (CAV 1)
• 142 (Seahawks) - Ben Burr-Kirven (CAV 1)
• 204 (Seahawks) - Travis Homer (CAV 1)

The Seahawks use the two picks above, 77 and 118, as part of a trade up with the Patriots for pick 64.

• 64 (Seahawks) - DK Metcalf (CAV 8)
• 77 (Patriots) - Chase Winovich (CAV 3)
• 118 (Patriots) - Hjalte Froholdt (CAV 0)

On Day 2, the Seahawks traded up with the Vikings for picks 88 and 209, sending Minnesota 92 and 159.

• 88 (Seahawks) - Cody Barton (CAV 2)
• 209 (Seahawks) - Demarcus Christmas (CAV 0)
• 92 (Vikings) - Packaged as part of a deal to the Jets
• 159 (Vikings) - Packaged as part of a deal to the Patriots

The Seahawks traded up again, this time with the Jags.

• 236 (Seahawks) - John Ursa (CAV 0)
• 2020 6th round pick (Jags)

In 2019, the Seahawks finished the season 11-5, beating the Eagles in the wildcard round, and losing to the Packers in the divisional game.

Conclusion

Wow. Even I was shocked at how reliably the Seahawks traded away their number one picks over the course of the past decade. After 2011, they actually traded their first round picks 10 times (including twice in 2 different years). They also carried out multiple parlays of picks - both up and down - in a number of drafts, seemingly getting more active as the years went on.

They carried out two trades involving sending their first round pick elsewhere for packages of vets, and neither of those deals worked out in their favor. The Percy Harvin trade, in particular, was far superior for the Vikings.

Of the first round trade backs, several were fairly close to a wash, with 2016 and 2017 being the only years where the Seahawks were clearly advantaged, though it’s really still too early to tell how the 2018 and 2019 will pan out.

Discerning a pattern regarding Day 2 and 3 trade backs will have to come in the comments below. I hope you’ve found this as fascinating as I have.