It has been quite a while since the Seattle Seahawks opted to trade down in the first round of the NFL Draft. Historically, the Seahawks had a pattern of trading down in the first round, particularly notable during drafts in 2020, 2022, and 2023. This year, however, they seem to be taking a different approach, especially given the absence of a second-round pick. This shift has sparked considerable discussion among fans and analysts alike, pondering whether the Seahawks might revert to their previous strategy of maximizing draft capital through trades.

Driven by curiosity, I undertook an analysis of every draft under the management of John Schneider to examine the outcomes of the Seahawks’ first-round trade-downs. What choices did they relinquish, and what did they gain in return? Each player drafted was either directly selected or indirectly obtained through Seattle’s initial trade. For example, Bruce Irvin was selected immediately following the Seahawks’ trade down in 2012, while the pathway to acquiring DK Metcalf in 2019 involved a series of complex trades that were possible due to earlier first-round decisions. Understanding these trades provides valuable insight into the team’s draft strategy.

Let’s dive deeper into the details!

Analyzing the Seahawks’ Draft Trades: Starting from 2010

In 2010, the Seahawks did not engage in any trade-downs, instead making the pivotal decision to draft Russell Okung and Earl Thomas, both of whom would become foundational players for the franchise.

Seahawks’ Strategic Choices in the 2011 Draft

In 2011, the Seahawks again chose not to trade down, opting to select James Carpenter, which highlighted their commitment to building a strong offensive line.

2012: A Year of Strategic Trade Down

Initial trade: In a strategic move, the Seahawks traded their No. 11 overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the No. 15 pick, along with a fourth-rounder (No. 114) and a sixth-rounder (No. 172).

Additional trades: N/A

Seahawks drafted:

DE Bruce Irvin (No. 15)
DT Jaye Howard (No. 114)
CB Jeremy Lane (No. 172)

2013: Missing First-Round Opportunity

In 2013, the Seahawks did not have a first-round pick due to the prior trade involving Percy Harvin, which limited their options that year.

2014 Draft: Trades for Strategic Gains

Initial trade: The Seahawks traded their No. 32 pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the second-round pick (No. 40) and a fourth-round pick (No. 108).

Additional trades:

• Seahawks traded the No. 40 pick and a fifth-rounder (No. 148) to the Detroit Lions for the No. 45 pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 111), and a seventh-round pick (No. 227).
• Seahawks traded the No. 111 pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 123 pick and a sixth-round pick (No. 199).

Players acquired:

WR Paul Richardson (No. 45)
DE Cassius Marsh (No. 108)
WR Kevin Norwood (No. 123)
OL Garrett Scott (No. 199)
RB Kiero Small (No. 227)

2015 Draft: Navigating Trade Limitations

In 2015, the Seahawks did not have a first-round pick, having traded it away as part of the deal for Jimmy Graham.

2016: A Critical Trade Down

Initial trade: The Seahawks traded the No. 26 pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the No. 31 pick and a third-round pick (No. 94).

Additional trades: N/A

Players acquired:

OL Germain Ifedi (No. 31)
TE Nick Vannett (No. 94)

2017 Draft: Complex Trade Dynamics

Initial trade: Seahawks traded the No. 26 pick to the Atlanta Falcons for the No. 31 pick, a third-round pick (No. 95), and a seventh-round pick (No. 249).

Additional trades:

• Seahawks traded the No. 31 pick to the San Francisco 49ers for a second-round pick (No. 34) and a fourth-round pick (No. 111).
• Seahawks traded the No. 34 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the No. 35 pick and a sixth-round pick (No. 187).

Players acquired:

DL Malik McDowell (No. 35)
S Lano Hill (No. 95)
S Tedric Thompson (No. 111)
S Mike Tyson (No. 187)
RB Chris Carson (No. 249)

2018 Draft: Strategic Moves and Trades

Initial trade: The Seahawks traded their No. 18 pick and a seventh-round pick (No. 248) to the Green Bay Packers for the No. 27 pick, a third-round pick (No. 76), and a sixth-round pick (No. 186).

Additional trades:

• Seahawks traded the No. 76 pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the No. 79 pick and a seventh-round pick (No. 220).

Players acquired:

RB Rashaad Penny (No. 27)
DE Rasheem Green (No. 79)
OLB Jacob Martin (No. 186)
QB Alex McGough (No. 220)

2019 Draft: Major Trades and Acquisitions

Initial trade: The Seahawks traded their No. 21 pick to the Green Bay Packers for the No. 30 pick and two fourth-round picks (No. 114 and No. 118).

Additional trades:

• Seahawks traded the No. 30 pick to the New York Giants for a second-round pick (No. 37), a fourth-round pick (No. 132), and a fifth-round pick (No. 142).
• Seahawks traded the No. 37 pick to the Carolina Panthers for the No. 47 pick and a third-round pick (No. 77).
• Seahawks traded the No. 77 and No. 118 picks to the New England Patriots for the No. 64 pick.
• Seahawks traded the No. 114 pick to the Minnesota Vikings for the No. 120 pick and a sixth-round pick (No. 204).

Players acquired:

S Marquise Blair (No. 47)
WR DK Metcalf (No. 64)
WR Gary Jennings Jr (No. 120)
S/CB Ugo Amadi (No. 132)
LB Ben Burr-Kirven (No. 142)
RB Travis Homer (No. 204)

2020-2023: No Trade Downs and Notable Picks

From 2020 to 2023, the Seahawks maintained their strategy of not trading down during the first round. This period was marked by the absence of a first-round pick in 2021 due to the trade involving Jamal Adams. In 2022, they selected Charles Cross, and in 2023, they opted for Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, showcasing their commitment to enhancing the roster without the need for trade-down strategies.

Bonus: Evaluating Opposition Players Acquired Through Trades

Round 1, No. 11 (2012): DT Fletcher Cox (Philadelphia Eagles)
Round 1, No. 32 (2014): QB Teddy Bridgewater (Minnesota Vikings)
Round 4, No. 111 (2014): OL Russell Bodine (Cincinnati Bengals)
Round 5, No. 146 (2014): WR Devin Street (Dallas Cowboys via Detroit Lions)
Round 5, No. 148 (2014): LB Kyle Van Noy (Detroit Lions)
Round 1, No. 26 (2016): QB Paxton Lynch (Denver Broncos)
Round 1, No. 26 (2017): DE Takk McKinley (Atlanta Falcons)
Round 1, No. 31 (2017): LB Reuben Foster (San Francisco 49ers)
Round 2, No. 34 (2017): OL Cam Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Round 1, No. 18 (2018): CB Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers)
Round 3, No. 76 (2018): QB Mason Rudolph (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Round 7, No. 248 (2018): DE Kendall Donnerson (Green Bay Packers)
Round 1, No. 21 (2019): S Darnell Savage (Green Bay Packers)
Round 1, No. 30 (2019): CB DeAndre Baker (New York Giants)
Round 2, No. 37 (2019): OL Greg Little (Carolina Panthers)
Round 3, No. 77 (2019): OLB Chase Winovich (New England Patriots)
Round 4, No. 114 (2019): OL Dru Samia (Minnesota Vikings)
Round 4, No. 118 (2019): OL Hjalte Froholdt (New England Patriots)

Players like Metcalf, Carson, Irvin, and even a lesser-known Lane have significantly contributed compared to other selections. Overall, the Seahawks have successfully acquired 18 draft choices through moves initiated by trading down in the first round. Notably, DK Metcalf is the only player in this compilation for whom Seattle traded up; additionally, in the 2019 draft, they had another first-rounder from the Frank Clark trade, selecting L.J. Collier.

What can we conclude from this analysis? While the Seahawks haven’t consistently excelled by trading down in the first round, this doesn’t imply that they should abandon this strategy. They have effectively increased their draft capital, which is essential for team building. However, it’s important to recognize that having more picks doesn’t always translate to a simultaneous enhancement of team quality.

In our next analysis, we will delve into the less frequent instances of trade-ups during draft day under Schneider to evaluate the outcomes of these decisions.