The 1997 Rick Mirer Trade: Seattle Turned a Fading Quarterback Into First-Round Draft Capital
Chicago sent the No. 11 pick to Seattle for Rick Mirer and a fourth-rounder. Seattle then used that first-round asset to help move up for Shawn Springs.
Chicago Bears Received
- player Rick Mirer
- pick 1997 4th round pick (105th overall, Darnell Autry )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 1997 1st round pick (11th overall subsequently traded, Michael Booker )
Trade Summary
Seattle sold Rick Mirer after four uneven seasons and received Chicago’s 11th overall pick in the 1997 draft, while sending back Mirer and a fourth-rounder. That was exceptional value for a quarterback whose early promise had faded. The Seahawks later used the first-round asset in further draft maneuvering, while Mirer lasted only one season in Chicago. Moving him before his market disappeared made this a decisive Seattle win.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Chicago acquired quarterback Rick Mirer and a 1997 fourth-round pick from Seattle in exchange for the Bears' first-round selection, No. 11 overall. Mirer had been the second overall pick in 1993, but his early promise had faded after four seasons with the Seahawks.
Why Chicago Was Willing to Bet on the Pedigree
Quarterback scarcity can preserve market value longer than performance alone would suggest. Mirer was still young and had substantial starting experience, so Chicago could argue that a new environment might restore the player who had shown promise as a rookie.
The first-round price made that projection extremely costly. Mirer appeared in only seven games for Chicago, started three, and did not become the long-term answer the Bears were seeking. The organization moved on quickly, leaving the first-round pick as a major sunk cost.
How Seattle Extended the Asset
The Seahawks did more than remove a quarterback they no longer viewed as a franchise solution. They converted him into the No. 11 pick, then packaged that selection with additional draft capital to move up to No. 3.
Seattle used the third overall pick on cornerback Shawn Springs, who became a Pro Bowler and an important member of the Seahawks secondary. The later trade-up required more than just the Bears' pick, so Mirer should not be treated as a direct one-for-one exchange for Springs. But the first-round asset Chicago provided was central to Seattle's ability to make that move.
Why the Value Gap Is So Large
Chicago paid a premium draft slot for a reclamation quarterback and received almost no lasting production. Seattle sold before Mirer's remaining market value disappeared and redirected the return toward a much more important roster piece.
Final Verdict
Seattle wins decisively. The Bears' desire to solve quarterback created an aggressive price for a player whose Seattle trajectory was already pointing downward. The Seahawks escaped the declining asset and turned the first-round return into part of the package that secured Springs.