Seattle traded the rights to defensive lineman Sam Clancy to…
Seattle traded the rights to defensive lineman Sam Clancy to Cleveland on August 27, 1985 for a 1986 seventh-round pick, later used on running back Paul Miles at No. 181. Clancy became a multi-year Browns contributor and recorded 14 sacks from 1985 through 1988. Miles did not generate comparable NFL value, making Cleveland the clear winner of the exchange.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 1986 7th round pick (181st overall, Paul Miles)
Cleveland Browns Received
- other rights to Sam Clancy
Trade Analysis
The Deal
Seattle's all-time trade history lists the August 27, 1985 move precisely: the Seahawks sent the rights to defensive end Sam Clancy to Cleveland for a 1986 seventh-round selection. The choice became No. 181 overall, which Seattle used on running back Paul Miles.
Cleveland's Return
Clancy had already appeared for Seattle in 1983 before spending time away from the NFL. Once Cleveland acquired his rights, he became a productive member of the Browns' defensive front. NFL statistics credit him with 59 games and 21 starts for Cleveland from 1985 through 1988. He recorded 6.5 sacks in 1986 and 14 sacks over those four Browns seasons.
Seattle's Return
The Seahawks received a future seventh-rounder, a reasonable asset for a player whose immediate status was uncertain. The problem is what happened afterward. Miles did not become a significant NFL contributor, leaving Seattle without meaningful realized value from the selection. The draft asset was real, but the outcome was minimal.
Value Over Time
Rights trades can be difficult to judge at the moment because the acquiring club assumes uncertainty about whether the player will return and contribute. Cleveland's bet worked. Clancy became a rotation piece and eventual starter for a strong Browns defense, then continued a long NFL career after leaving Cleveland.
Final Verdict
Cleveland earns an A- for turning a seventh-round pick into four seasons of useful defensive-line production. Seattle gets a D+ because the acquired pick did not yield comparable NFL value despite the defensible low-cost logic at the time.
Clancy gave Cleveland four seasons of useful defensive-line work, including 14 sacks and a strong 1986 campaign. Seattle's seventh-round return did not yield comparable production from Miles. Acquiring a multi-year contributor for a late selection created a substantial team-specific advantage for the Browns at minimal organizational cost over time historically.