Seattle moved Matt Flynn to Oakland after Russell Wilson had…
Seattle moved Matt Flynn to Oakland after Russell Wilson had permanently taken the starting job, receiving a 2014 fifth-round pick plus a conditional 2015 selection that was never conveyed. Flynn lost Oakland’s quarterback competition, made only one start, and was released in October. Seattle later folded pick No. 146 into a 2014 draft-day move that helped produce Paul Richardson and additional capital, making the Seahawks the clear winner.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Matt Flynn
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 2014 5th round pick (146th overall subsequently traded, Devin Street )
- pick conditional 2015 draft pick (not conveyed)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Russell Wilson’s breakout rookie season made Matt Flynn expendable in Seattle. Oakland, still searching for a stable quarterback, acquired Flynn on April 1, 2013 and sent a 2014 fifth-round pick plus a conditional 2015 selection. The condition was never met, so Seattle’s actual draft return was the fifth-rounder.
What Each Side Received
The Raiders expected Flynn to compete for the starting job, but Terrelle Pryor overtook him. Flynn made one start for Oakland, struggled, and was released in October. Seattle did not simply sit on the acquired fifth-round pick. The selection became No. 146 in 2014 and was packaged with No. 40 in a trade with Detroit that moved Seattle to No. 45 and added other choices.
How the Return Aged
Seattle used No. 45 on wide receiver Paul Richardson, while the broader trade-down chain created additional draft flexibility. Because the conditional 2015 pick never transferred, the Seahawks’ grade should rest on the fifth-round asset alone. Even on that narrower basis, Seattle extracted something useful from a player whose path to the field had vanished.
Why the Margin Matters
Oakland’s loss is driven by the speed of the failure. The Raiders did not receive a developmental quarterback who gave them several seasons of backup value; Flynn was gone by early October. Seattle incurred no meaningful on-field cost because Wilson was already entrenched.
Final Verdict
Seattle Seahawks Win. Seattle earns a B+ for converting an expendable veteran into draft capital that remained useful in a later trade. Oakland receives a D because the intended starting-quarterback solution lasted only one start and half a season.