Minnesota Vikings–Seattle Seahawks Trade History

Minnesota acquired Ahmad Rashad from Seattle for a 1977 fourth-round pick and found an ideal long-term receiving partner for Fran Tarkenton and the Vikings offense. Rashad spent seven seasons in Minnesota, caught 400 passes for 5,489 yards and earned four consecutive Pro Bowl selections, making the modest acquisition cost an extraordinary bargain.

Seattle sent Minnesota the 1978 eighth-round pick used on Mike Wood and received safety Autry Beamon plus linebacker Amos Martin. Beamon immediately became the prize, appearing in 45 Seahawks games with 39 starts and 11 interceptions from 1977 through 1979. Wood gave Minnesota limited direct value, so Seattle's three-year defensive return clearly wins the exchange.

Minnesota acquired defensive lineman Steve Niehaus from Seattle and received only a brief contribution. Niehaus appeared in three games for the Vikings in 1979 and made no starts. Seattle received veteran defensive end Carl Eller plus Minnesota's 1980 eighth-round selection, which became Vic Minor. The Seahawks therefore collected both a full season from Eller and another NFL player from the pick.

Minnesota acquired offensive lineman Nick Bebout from Seattle on September 1, 1980 for a 1981 ninth-round pick, correctly identified as No. 236, which Seattle used on Jim Whatley. Bebout appeared in only one game for the Vikings before being released later that month, while Whatley did not develop into a meaningful NFL contributor. Neither side produced durable value from the exchange.

Minnesota acquired veteran safety John Harris from Seattle on September 2, 1986 for a 1987 seventh-round pick that became No. 184, Roland Barbay. Harris immediately became a Vikings starter and intercepted nine passes over his three Minnesota seasons while making 37 starts. Converting a late-round choice into that much secondary experience and production gave Minnesota the stronger side of the trade.

Minnesota sent former Defensive Player of the Year Keith Millard to Seattle and received the 39th pick in 1992 plus a 1993 third-rounder. The Vikings used those selections on Robert Harris and John Gerak. Millard appeared in only two games for Seattle, while Minnesota converted the return into two players who supplied multiple seasons of roster value.

Minnesota converted Percy Harvin into a first-round pick, a seventh-round pick, and a future third-rounder, then used the premium pieces on Xavier Rhodes and Jerick McKinnon. Rhodes became an All-Pro-caliber cornerback at his peak, while McKinnon supplied multiple useful seasons. Harvin's Seattle tenure was brief and injury-limited. The Seahawks did receive a memorable championship contribution, but Minnesota extracted substantially more sustained roster value from the package.

Minnesota moved back into the first round for Teddy Bridgewater, sending Seattle picks No. 40 and No. 108. Bridgewater became the Vikings' starter, made the Pro Bowl after the 2015 season and helped produce an NFC North title before a catastrophic knee injury changed his trajectory. Seattle traded No. 40 again and collected additional selections while using No. 108 on Cassius Marsh. Both sides got useful value, with Minnesota's starting-quarterback payoff providing the stronger peak.

Seattle moved up from No. 92 to No. 88 in the third round of the 2019 draft and also received No. 209. Minnesota received No. 92 and fifth-rounder No. 159. The Seahawks selected linebacker Cody Barton at 88 and defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas at 209. The Minnesota Vikings produced the stronger realized return, supporting the Minnesota Vikings Win verdict.

Minnesota moved up six spots in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, sending Seattle picks No. 120 and No. 204 for No. 114 and selecting guard Dru Samia. Samia never secured a lasting Vikings role. Seattle got little from Gary Jennings, but Travis Homer became a useful reserve running back and core special-teams contributor over four seasons.

Minnesota sent pick 142 to Seattle for quarterback Sam Howell and pick 172, then converted No. 172 into picks 201 and 202 for Kobe King and Gavin Bartholomew. Howell did not make the regular-season roster, but Minnesota later packaged him and a 2026 sixth to Philadelphia for 2026 fifth- and 2027 seventh-round picks. Seattle used 142 on Rylie Mills, leaving a modest Vikings edge.