Detroit Lions–Seattle Seahawks Trade History

Detroit sent veteran quarterback Bill Munson to expansion Seattle for a 1977 fifth-round pick that became No. 114 Ron Crosby. Munson gave Seattle only five appearances and no starts, but the Lions' acquired selection did not develop into a meaningful NFL return. Detroit gained draft capital, yet the realized result remained modest.

Detroit Lions received Fred Steinfort in the 1977-08-19 exchange with Seattle Seahawks. Steinfort did not appear in a regular-season game for Detroit after the purchase, so the Lions realized essentially no on-field return from the acquisition. Against Seattle Seahawks' return of $100 cash, that outcome supports a D grade. The transaction is judged Seattle Seahawks Win, with the mark tied to the football value that actually followed from the deal.

Detroit acquired Bill Cooke and Seattle's 1979 eighth-round pick, No. 213. Cooke played 12 games with three starts for the Lions in 1978, and the pick became linebacker John Mohring. Detroit received some usable depth and a late selection, but the package did not match the direct starting value Seattle got from Ernie Price.

Seattle traded linebacker Shelton Robinson to Detroit on September 1, 1986 for a 1987 fifth-round pick that became No. 119, Tommie Agee. Robinson played 40 games and made 16 starts for the Lions over three seasons. Agee eventually played 16 games for Seattle in 1988 but had only a small offensive role there, so Detroit received more sustained team-specific value.

Seattle acquired tackle Curt Singer from Detroit on July 28, 1989 for a conditional draft choice. The Seahawks' official trade history states that the trade criteria were not met, so no draft selection conveyed to Detroit. Singer did not appear in a 1989 regular-season game for Seattle and instead played six games for the Jets. With neither side realizing meaningful value, the result is essentially even.

Seattle Seahawks received James Jones from Detroit Lions. James Jones stayed with Seattle through 1992 as a reserve and occasional starter, giving the Seahawks useful multi-year backfield depth without becoming a major offensive piece. That realized return supports a C+ grade for Seattle Seahawks. The final verdict is Detroit Lions Win, based on the regular-season service and draft value each club actually received after the exchange.

Seattle acquired wide receiver John Ford from Detroit on August 26, 1990 for a conditional 1991 draft pick. Seattle's official trade history states that the condition was not met, so the pick never conveyed. Ford, a 1989 second-round selection, was released by Seattle shortly afterward, leaving both clubs with little realized value and no exercised draft compensation.

Seattle acquired wide receiver Reggie Barrett from Detroit on April 28, 1994, for a 1995 fifth-round pick. Barrett produced only a small amount of receiving value, while Detroit used the No. 141 selection on linebacker Stephen Boyd. Boyd became a long-term Lions starter and two-time Pro Bowler. Turning a reserve receiver into Boyd makes this one of the clearest wins in the wave for Detroit.

Seattle moved from No. 17 to No. 21 in the 1996 draft and received pick No. 91 from Detroit. The Seahawks selected offensive lineman Pete Kendall and running back Reggie Brown, while the Lions used No. 17 on linebacker Reggie Brown. Detroit's Brown looked like a rising defensive star before a spinal-cord injury ended his career, while Kendall became a 13-year NFL starter, giving Seattle the better hindsight return.

Seattle traded Julian Peterson to Detroit for Cory Redding and the 137th pick. Redding spent one season with the Seahawks, appearing in 15 games with three starts and two sacks, while the pick was later moved in another draft trade. Peterson became a two-year Detroit starter, making 28 starts and recording 159 combined tackles with 5.5 sacks. The Lions received the stronger direct football value.

Seattle sent guard Rob Sims and a seventh-round pick to Detroit for defensive lineman Robert Henderson and the 133rd selection, then used No. 133 on Kam Chancellor. Chancellor became a four-time Pro Bowler, two-time second-team All-Pro and foundational member of the Legion of Boom. Detroit also received strong value from Sims and Willie Young, but Chancellor became the exchange's defining player.

Seattle traded Lawrence Jackson to Detroit for a 2011 sixth-round pick and selected Byron Maxwell. Jackson was productive for the Lions, recording 13 sacks in three seasons despite never starting a game there. Maxwell developed into a starting corner on Seattle’s championship secondary, intercepted six passes across 2013 and 2014, and won Super Bowl XLVIII. Detroit received real value, but Maxwell’s higher-leverage role gives Seattle the edge.

Seattle acquired tackle Tyler Polumbus from Detroit for a 2012 seventh-round pick, ultimately No. 219. Polumbus appeared in 20 games and started seven across two Seahawks seasons, providing useful emergency line depth. Detroit later used the selection on Trevor Guyton, who did not become a regular-season Lions contributor. Seattle received the stronger return from a low-cost depth trade.

Detroit moved up to No. 57 for running back Mikel Leshoure, sending Seattle a package that became John Moffitt, Kris Durham, Richard Sherman and Pep Levingston. The trade is defined by Sherman, a fifth-round pick who became an elite All-Pro cornerback, centerpiece of the Legion of Boom and Super Bowl champion. Detroit received limited value from Leshoure and the later selections, creating an overwhelming Seattle advantage.

Seattle sent picks No. 165 and No. 199 to Detroit for No. 137. The Seahawks selected defensive tackle Jesse Williams, while Detroit used the acquired selections on punter Sam Martin and running back Theo Riddick. Williams' career was derailed before he could become a regular contributor. Martin became a quality long-term punter and Riddick a productive receiving back, giving Detroit two useful players and a decisive hindsight advantage.

Detroit moved up from No. 45 to No. 40 in the 2014 draft and selected Kyle Van Noy, sending Seattle additional fourth- and seventh-round value while also receiving a fifth. Van Noy played only 30 games and made seven starts for Detroit before being traded to New England. Seattle's No. 45 pick became Paul Richardson, who produced 1,302 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for the Seahawks, giving Seattle the edge.

Seattle sent a 2016 sixth-round pick to Detroit in August 2015 for cornerback Mohammed Seisay, a young depth option who fit the Seahawks' preferred size profile. Seisay did not become a regular-season contributor for Seattle. Detroit's pick became No. 202, used on defensive lineman Anthony Zettel, who developed into a useful rotational player and starter. The Lions received the only substantial on-field value from the deal.