NFL Trade Verdict

Seattle Seahawks Win

Seattle sent veteran WR Deion Branch back to New England and turned the return into pick #99, later used on LB K.J. Wright. Wright became the quiet connective tissue of the Legion of Boom defense: a long, smart linebacker who fit the scheme for a decade and topped 1,000 career tackles. Moving Branch made sense for a rebuilding team, but the downstream outcome made the deal far better than a routine veteran sell-off. Seattle converted an aging receiver into a championship-era starter.

October 12, 2010 Seattle SeahawksNew England Patriots Confidence: high Tier: major

Seattle Seahawks Received

Trade Summary

Seattle sent veteran WR Deion Branch back to New England and turned the return into pick #99, later used on LB K.J. Wright. Wright became the quiet connective tissue of the Legion of Boom defense: a long, smart linebacker who fit the scheme for a decade and topped 1,000 career tackles. Moving Branch made sense for a rebuilding team, but the downstream outcome made the deal far better than a routine veteran sell-off. Seattle converted an aging receiver into a championship-era starter.

Trade Analysis

Seattle sent veteran WR Deion Branch back to New England and turned the return into pick #99, later used on LB K.J. Wright. Wright became the quiet connective tissue of the Legion of Boom defense: a long, smart linebacker who fit the scheme for a decade and topped 1,000 career tackles. Moving Branch made sense for a rebuilding team, but the downstream outcome made the deal far better than a routine veteran sell-off. Seattle converted an aging receiver into a championship-era starter. New England reacquired a familiar veteran receiver for a fourth-round pick; Branch contributed in his return, but the pick became K.J. Wright for Seattle.