The 2013 Percy Harvin Trade: Minnesota Built a Draft Haul, Seattle Bought a Super Bowl Moment
Seattle sent Minnesota first-, seventh- and future third-round picks for Percy Harvin. The Vikings landed Xavier Rhodes and Jerick McKinnon; Harvin's Seattle tenure was brief but included an iconic Super Bowl touchdown.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- pick 2013 1st round pick (25th overall, Xavier Rhodes ), 2013 7th round pick (214th overall, Travis Bond ) and 2014 3rd round pick (96th overall, Jerick McKinnon )
- pick 2013 1st round pick (25th overall, Xavier Rhodes )
- pick 2013 7th round pick (214th overall, Travis Bond )
- pick 2014 3rd round pick (96th overall, Jerick McKinnon )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Percy Harvin
Trade Summary
Minnesota converted Percy Harvin into a first-round pick, a seventh-round pick, and a future third-rounder, then used the premium pieces on Xavier Rhodes and Jerick McKinnon. Rhodes became an All-Pro-caliber cornerback at his peak, while McKinnon supplied multiple useful seasons. Harvin's Seattle tenure was brief and injury-limited. The Seahawks did receive a memorable championship contribution, but Minnesota extracted substantially more sustained roster value from the package.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Seattle acquired Percy Harvin from Minnesota in 2013 for a first-round pick, a seventh-round selection and a third-round pick in 2014. Minnesota used the first-rounder on cornerback Xavier Rhodes, the seventh on Travis Bond and the future third on running back Jerick McKinnon.
Why Seattle Was Willing to Pay
The Seahawks already had a championship-caliber defense and running game. Harvin offered a different kind of weapon: elite speed, return ability and the capacity to stress a defense as a receiver or runner. Seattle paid a premium because it believed he could be the final explosive element for a title contender.
Injuries prevented Harvin from providing normal regular-season value. He appeared only sparingly during the 2013 season and his Seattle tenure ended early the following year. But his 87-yard kickoff-return touchdown to open the second half of Super Bowl XLVIII became one of the defining plays of the franchise's first championship.
Why Minnesota Won the Larger Value Battle
Rhodes developed into an All-Pro cornerback and one of the league's best coverage defenders at his peak. McKinnon gave Minnesota multiple useful offensive seasons. The Vikings therefore received years of starting-level value from more than one asset.
The Long-Term Legacy
This trade forces two different kinds of value into the same comparison: sustained roster building versus one unforgettable championship contribution.
Final Verdict
The Minnesota Vikings Win verdict is still appropriate because the total player value was far greater. Seattle's grade should remain respectable, however, because Harvin directly contributed to a Super Bowl victory and produced an iconic championship play.
Seattle's side still carried real historical value because Harvin produced a memorable Super Bowl kickoff-return touchdown during the franchise's first championship. Minnesota, however, transformed the deal into Xavier Rhodes and Jerick McKinnon, receiving years of high-level cornerback play and sustained offensive contribution.