Seattle sent running back Christine Michael to Dallas for a…
Seattle sent running back Christine Michael to Dallas for a conditional 2016 seventh-round pick that became No. 225. Michael's Cowboys stay lasted only a few weeks before his release, while Seattle later used the pick as part of a draft-day package that helped acquire selections used on Quinton Jefferson and Kenny Lawler. Jefferson became a useful Seahawks defensive lineman, giving Seattle clear value from a player Dallas barely used.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 2016 7th round pick (225th overall subsequently traded, Devin Lucien)
Dallas Cowboys Received
- player Christine Michael
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Dallas acquired running back Christine Michael from Seattle on September 6, 2015, for a conditional 2016 seventh-round pick. The condition was met, giving Seattle pick No. 225. Michael had been a second-round Seahawks selection two years earlier but remained behind Marshawn Lynch and other backs. Dallas was searching for upside after DeMarco Murray's departure, while Seattle converted a crowded depth-chart player into future draft capital.
Why Dallas Took the Chance
The cost was low and Michael's physical traits remained enticing. Dallas hoped its offensive line could help turn him into a productive rotation back. That never happened. Michael appeared in five games for the Cowboys, carried 15 times for 51 yards and was released in November. He later returned to Seattle, making the original acquisition especially unrewarding from Dallas' perspective.
How Seattle Extended the Pick
Seattle did more than simply make the No. 225 selection. During the 2016 draft, the Seahawks packaged that pick with a future fourth-rounder in a deal with New England that brought back picks No. 147 and 243. Seattle used No. 147 on defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, who developed into a useful NFL lineman and had multiple productive stints with the Seahawks. That downstream value materially improved what began as a seventh-round return.
Final Verdict
Dallas risked very little, so the D grade reflects outcome more than catastrophic cost. The Cowboys received only a handful of carries before moving on. Seattle turned a surplus back into an asset, then folded that asset into a later trade that helped produce a genuine defensive contributor. That is a clean example of extracting value from roster depth, and it gives the Seahawks a comfortable win.