Washington traded Tim Morrison to Seattle for a conditional…
Washington traded Tim Morrison to Seattle for a conditional draft selection, but the conditions were not fulfilled. That outcome leaves Washington without an exercised pick to credit from the exchange. Seattle obtained the opportunity to evaluate Morrison, while neither side established a substantial return. An even grade reflects the limited realized value and the conditional nature of the price.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Tim Morrison
Washington Commanders Received
- pick conditional twelfth-round pick (not exercised)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On May 23, 1988, Seattle acquired cornerback Tim Morrison from Washington in exchange for a conditional draft choice. The Seahawks' official trade history explicitly states that the trade criteria were not met. The compensation must therefore be described as unexercised, rather than assigning Washington a completed selection or a player it supposedly drafted with the pick.
Washington Return
Washington traded Tim Morrison to Seattle for a conditional draft selection, but the conditions were not fulfilled. That outcome leaves Washington without an exercised pick to credit from the exchange. Seattle obtained the opportunity to evaluate Morrison, while neither side established a substantial return. An even grade reflects the limited realized value and the conditional nature of the price.
Seattle Seahawks Return
Seattle acquired Tim Morrison from Washington for a conditional draft choice in May 1988. The Seahawks' official trade history states that the criteria were not met, so Washington did not receive an exercised pick. The deal is best understood as a limited roster opportunity with contingent compensation, not a successful draft return or a substantial long-term acquisition.
Value in Hindsight
The difference between a conditional promise and completed compensation is the main issue in this exchange. Seattle did not necessarily lose a draft asset simply by agreeing to the condition, and Washington did not gain one automatically. Both sides entered a limited arrangement whose eventual value remained small. No successful later draftee or additional consideration is needed to explain the outcome.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Each team receives a C for a minor, conditional transaction with little demonstrated lasting return. Seattle's protection against an unmet condition limits the downside, while Washington's unexercised compensation prevents a positive draft-value claim. The grade stays modest and does not turn the absence of a completed pick into an invented player or a large victory for either team.