Seattle traded Percy Harvin to the New York Jets in October…
Seattle traded Percy Harvin to the New York Jets in October 2014 for a conditional 2015 draft pick that settled as a sixth-rounder. Harvin played eight games for New York, catching 29 passes for 350 yards and one touchdown, but the Jets released him the following offseason. Seattle accepted a steep loss relative to its 2013 acquisition cost but escaped the remaining commitment and recovered a pick.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 2015 6th round pick (181st overall subsequently traded, Kyshoen Jarrett )
New York Jets Received
- player Percy Harvin
Trade Analysis
Why Seattle Moved So Quickly
The Seahawks had paid heavily to acquire Percy Harvin from Minnesota in 2013, including first-, third- and seventh-round draft capital, then gave him a major contract. By October 2014, Seattle decided the experiment was no longer worth continuing. The return from New York was a conditional mid-round pick, dramatically less than Seattle's original investment but still a way to recover something while ending the relationship.
What the Jets Bought
New York was 1-6 and looking for offensive explosiveness. Harvin supplied exactly that profile. In eight games for the Jets he caught 29 passes for 350 yards and one touchdown and also contributed 110 rushing yards. Those numbers were useful, but not transformative enough to justify a long-term commitment at his existing cost.
How the Condition Resolved
The pick was structured to rise depending on Harvin's status and performance. It ultimately settled as a sixth-round selection. The recorded No. 181 slot later changed hands before Washington selected Kyshoen Jarrett, so Jarrett should be treated as a downstream pick outcome rather than a Seahawk selection.
Why Seattle Still Has the Edge
Seattle's original Harvin acquisition was costly, but this page judges the 2014 exit transaction itself. The Seahawks removed future obligation, avoided paying for another season, and received draft value. The Jets obtained only an eight-game rental before releasing Harvin.
Final Verdict
Seattle Seahawks Win. Seattle earns a B- for recognizing a sunk cost and recovering a sixth-round asset. New York receives a C because Harvin provided some immediate offense, but the team surrendered a pick for a player it kept only half a season.
Seattle recovered usable draft capital from a player it no longer wanted to carry, while New York received only eight games from Percy Harvin before releasing him, making the Seahawks' quick reset the more durable outcome.