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 )
- pick 2014 4th round pick (111th overall; subsequently traded to Cincinnati)
- pick 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 to Dallas)
Trade Summary
Detroit moved up from No. 45 to No. 40 in the 2014 draft and selected Kyle Van Noy, sending Seattle additional fourth- and seventh-round value while also receiving a fifth. Van Noy played only 30 games and made seven starts for Detroit before being traded to New England. Seattle's No. 45 pick became Paul Richardson, who produced 1,302 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for the Seahawks, giving Seattle the edge.
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Detroit moved from No. 45 to No. 40 in the second round of the 2014 draft to select linebacker Kyle Van Noy. Seattle received No. 45, No. 111 and No. 227, while Detroit also received No. 146. The deal was a classic targeted move-up against a trade-down built around extra selections, making the eventual production of Van Noy and Paul Richardson central to the comparison.
Seattle Seahawks Return
Seattle used No. 45 on receiver Paul Richardson. Across four Seahawks seasons he caught 95 passes for 1,302 yards and eight touchdowns, with his best year coming in 2017 when he produced 703 yards and six scores. No. 111 was later traded, preserving additional draft value, and No. 227 became Kiero Small. Richardson's useful multi-year run gives Seattle a substantial direct return from the trade-down.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit drafted Van Noy at No. 40, but his Lions tenure never matched the career he later built elsewhere. He appeared in 30 regular-season games for Detroit and made seven starts, with one sack before the club traded him to New England during the 2016 season. The fifth-round component also moved again, so Detroit did not obtain enough additional value to offset Van Noy's limited production in a Lions uniform.
Value in Hindsight
Van Noy ultimately became the most accomplished player connected to the exchange, but most of that success belongs to teams that acquired him later. Trade grading should focus on value realized by the clubs involved. Seattle received several seasons of receiver production and extra selection flexibility. Detroit spent capital to move up for a player it moved before his peak.
Final Verdict
Seattle earns a B and Detroit a C. Richardson was not a star, but 1,302 yards and eight touchdowns for the Seahawks plus the extra draft assets make the trade-down productive. Detroit's decision to target Van Noy was understandable, yet his limited Lions impact means his later success cannot turn this into a Detroit victory.