Philadelphia moved from No. 15 to No. 12 in the 2012 draft…
Philadelphia moved from No. 15 to No. 12 in the 2012 draft and selected defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, sending Seattle a fourth- and sixth-round pick with the first-round swap. Cox became a franchise-defining defender, earning six Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro recognition while helping Philadelphia win Super Bowl LII. His decade-plus impact gave the Eagles exceptional value from the targeted move up.
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 2012 1st round pick (12th overall, Fletcher Cox )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 2012 1st round pick (15th overall, Bruce Irvin )
- pick 2012 4th round pick (114th overall, Jaye Howard )
- pick 2012 6th round pick (172nd overall, Jeremy Lane )
Trade Analysis
Philadelphia traded up only three spots because Fletcher Cox had fallen within reach, and the result became one of the best first-round decisions in franchise history. The Eagles sent pick No. 15, a fourth-rounder at No. 114 and a sixth-rounder at No. 172 to Seattle for No. 12. Cox developed into an elite interior defender, spent 12 seasons with Philadelphia, earned six Pro Bowl selections and first-team All-Pro honors, and became a foundational piece of the defense that won Super Bowl LII. His longevity and peak performance make the Eagles' side an obvious A+.
Seattle's return was also quite good. The Seahawks selected Bruce Irvin at No. 15. Irvin provided edge speed, started 37 games during his first four Seattle seasons and contributed to the defense that won Super Bowl XLVIII and returned to the Super Bowl the following year. The fourth-round selection became Jaye Howard, who did not stick in Seattle, but the sixth-round pick became cornerback Jeremy Lane. Lane developed into a valuable secondary contributor, played extensively during Seattle's championship window and started Super Bowl XLIX before suffering a severe injury.
That combination matters. Many trade-down losers receive little beyond theoretical draft value, but Seattle found two players who contributed to one of the strongest defenses of the era. The Seahawks therefore deserve far better than the previous B-.
The deciding factor is Cox. Philadelphia acquired a player with a decade of high-level production at a premium position, and he remained important through multiple competitive cycles. Seattle earns an A- for Irvin and Lane, both meaningful championship-era contributors. Philadelphia earns an A+ for landing a franchise great and Super Bowl champion. The Eagles win, but this is a high-quality trade on both sides rather than a case where one club failed.
Cox's decade-plus Philadelphia impact exceeded Seattle's strong multi-player return.