The 2014 Kyle Van Noy Trade: Detroit Moved Up, Seattle Spread the Value Around
Detroit climbed five spots for Kyle Van Noy and also received a fifth-rounder. Seattle took Paul Richardson, Kiero Small and additional draft value, creating a deal whose winner was narrower than the headline suggests.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 2014 2nd round pick (45th overall, Paul Richardson), 2014 4th round pick (111th overall subsequently traded, Russell Bodine) and 2014 7th round pick (227th overall, Kiero Small)
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 2014 2nd round pick (40th overall, Kyle Van Noy )
- pick 2014 5th round pick (146th overall subsequently traded, Devin Street )
Trade Summary
Seattle Seahawks received 2014 2nd round pick (45th overall, Paul Richardson), 2014 4th round pick (111th overall subsequently traded, Russell Bodine) and 2014 7th round pick (227th overall, Kiero Small). Detroit Lions received 2014 2nd round pick (40th overall, Kyle Van Noy) and 2014 5th round pick (146th overall subsequently traded, Devin Street). The final review favors Detroit Lions because that return produced stronger long-term football value.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Detroit moved from No. 45 to No. 40 in the 2014 draft and also received pick No. 146. Seattle received Nos. 45, 111 and 227. The Lions used No. 40 on linebacker Kyle Van Noy. Seattle used No. 45 on wide receiver Paul Richardson and No. 227 on fullback Kiero Small, while No. 111 was later moved to Cincinnati.
Why Detroit Made the Move
Van Noy was a targeted second-round defender with the versatility to play on the edge or off the ball. NFL.com's draft review viewed him as a strong fit, and Detroit was willing to sacrifice extra selections rather than risk losing him five picks later.
Why the Result Was Complicated
Van Noy did not become a star in Detroit. Injuries slowed his rookie season, and by 2016 the Lions traded him to New England. His best football came after that move, where he became an important part of championship defenses. That later success proves Detroit identified a real NFL player, but it cannot be fully credited as Lions production.
Seattle's return was spread across more assets. Richardson developed into a useful receiver and posted his best Seattle season in 2017, but he never became a long-term No. 1 target. Small had minimal impact, and the No. 111 asset was redirected.
The Long-Term Legacy
This was not a runaway result for either side. Detroit got the most accomplished individual player tied directly to the exchange, but failed to maximize him. Seattle accumulated more draft capital without turning it into a franchise-changing piece.
Final Verdict
The Detroit Lions Win verdict is defensible only as a narrow edge. Van Noy became the best player connected to the original exchange, but because most of his peak value came elsewhere, this trade should not be treated as a major Detroit victory.