Seattle traded linebacker Shelton Robinson to Detroit on…
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 Seahawks Received
- pick 1987 fifth round pick (#119-Tommie Agee)
Detroit Lions Received
- player Shelton Robinson
Trade Analysis
Why Detroit Made the Trade
Detroit acquired linebacker Shelton Robinson from Seattle just before the 1986 season, sending the Seahawks a fifth-round pick in the 1987 draft. Seattle's official trade history confirms the September 1 transaction and the eventual identity of the pick, No. 119 overall.
What Detroit Received
Robinson became a useful Lions defender rather than a one-season rental. He played 40 games for Detroit across three seasons and made 16 starts. That level of service is a strong outcome for the cost of a fifth-round selection, especially because the Lions received immediate defensive help and then retained him for multiple years.
What Seattle Received
Seattle used No. 119 on running back Tommie Agee. Agee eventually had a seven-year NFL career and played 100 games overall, but most of that value came after leaving Seattle. His Seahawks contribution was confined to 1988, when he appeared in 16 games and had a limited offensive role before continuing his career with Kansas City and Dallas.
How the Value Settled
The distinction is team-specific realized value. Agee proved he belonged in the NFL, so the Seahawks did not make a poor selection in an absolute sense. Detroit, however, received more meaningful production for its own roster from Robinson than Seattle received from Agee.
Final Verdict
Detroit earns a B and Seattle a C+. Robinson's 40 games and 16 starts gave the Lions several seasons of practical defensive value, while Agee's broader NFL longevity did not translate into comparable Seahawks production. That makes this a Detroit Lions Win by a clear but not overwhelming margin.