Seattle sent a 2018 third-rounder and 2019 second-rounder to…
Seattle sent a 2018 third-rounder and 2019 second-rounder to Houston for Duane Brown and a 2018 fifth-round pick. Brown immediately stabilized left tackle, earned All-Pro recognition in 2018 and remained Seattle’s starter through 2021; the fifth-rounder became Shaquem Griffin. Houston used the picks on Martinas Rankin and Lonnie Johnson, but neither became a comparable long-term Texans cornerstone. Brown’s premium-position longevity makes this a decisive Seahawks win.
Houston Texans Received
- pick 2018 3rd round pick (80th overall, Martinas Rankin)
- pick 2019 2nd round pick (54th overall, Lonnie Johnson)
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Duane Brown
- pick 2018 5th round pick (141st overall, Shaquem Griffin)
Trade Analysis
Seattle’s offensive line had become an urgent problem by the middle of the 2017 season, especially after injuries at tackle. The Seahawks addressed the premium position at the trade deadline by acquiring veteran left tackle Duane Brown and Houston’s 2018 fifth-round pick for a 2018 third-rounder and 2019 second-rounder. An earlier version of the deal included Jeremy Lane, but his failed physical changed the final compensation.
Brown immediately stepped in as Seattle’s starting left tackle and stayed there for the rest of 2017. The Seahawks then signed him to a multi-year extension before the 2018 season. He rewarded that commitment with second-team All-Pro recognition in 2018 and remained the club’s primary left tackle through 2021, giving Russell Wilson a high-level blind-side protector during several playoff seasons. The fifth-round selection Houston included became linebacker Shaquem Griffin, who added special-teams and defensive depth.
Houston used the 2018 third-rounder on offensive lineman Martinas Rankin. Rankin struggled to establish a permanent role and was traded to Kansas City after one season for running back Carlos Hyde. The 2019 second-rounder became defensive back Lonnie Johnson, who contributed for three seasons but never developed into a comparable foundational starter and was later traded away.
The Texans had understandable reasons to move Brown amid a prolonged contract dispute, and they did receive two top-80 selections across consecutive drafts. The issue is conversion. Neither pick produced the kind of sustained premium-position value Seattle received immediately.
The Seahawks move to an A. Houston remains D+. Brown supplied years of high-level left-tackle play, an All-Pro season and stability at one of football’s hardest positions to fill. Even considering the significant draft cost, Seattle clearly captured the best and most durable asset in the transaction.