Seattle traded linebacker Barrett Ruud to New Orleans in…
Seattle traded linebacker Barrett Ruud to New Orleans in August 2012 and ultimately received the 220th pick in the 2013 draft, used on offensive lineman Ryan Seymour. The Seahawks converted a veteran who was unlikely to hold a major role into late-round capital. Seymour did not become a lasting Seattle contributor, keeping the realized return modest.
New Orleans Saints Received
- player Barrett Ruud
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 2013 seventh round pick (220th overall, Ryan Seymour )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Seattle moved linebacker Barrett Ruud to New Orleans in August 2012 for a draft choice that eventually became the 220th overall selection in 2013. Seattle used that seventh-round pick on offensive lineman Ryan Seymour. The structure was typical of a late-preseason depth trade: one club moved a veteran who was not essential to its plan, while the other purchased experience for minimal draft cost.
Seattle’s Return
The Seahawks did well to obtain any draft capital for a player whose role had become expendable. Seventh-round picks are low-probability assets, but they preserve a chance to add inexpensive depth. Seattle used the selection on Seymour, an offensive lineman with developmental traits. He did not turn into a durable Seahawks piece, so the transaction never produced the kind of surplus that would justify a strong grade.
New Orleans’ Return
The Saints acquired Ruud because linebacker depth had immediate utility. His experience reduced the risk of entering the season without enough veteran options, and the cost was near the bottom of the draft. The downside is that the acquisition did not lead to a long or especially productive New Orleans run. It functioned more as a short-term roster patch than as a meaningful personnel win.
Value in Hindsight
Both returns were limited. Seattle got a real draft selection but did not turn it into a lasting contributor. New Orleans got a recognizable veteran but not a long-term answer. Because the price was only a seventh-rounder, neither team incurred meaningful opportunity cost. The deal accomplished basic roster-management goals on both sides without generating enough realized production to create a clear advantage.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Seattle and New Orleans each receive a C. The Seahawks converted surplus veteran depth into a draft choice, while the Saints acquired an experienced linebacker for minimal cost. Seymour’s limited Seattle impact and Ruud’s limited New Orleans tenure largely cancel each other out, leaving the transaction close to neutral in hindsight.