Detroit received Bill Cooke and Seattle's 1979 eighth-round…
Detroit received Bill Cooke and Seattle's 1979 eighth-round pick at No. 213. Cooke played 12 games with three starts for Detroit in 1978, and the pick became linebacker John Mohring. The package produced some use but less direct value than Price gave Seattle. The hindsight grade is C+, with the overall verdict recorded as Seattle Seahawks Win.
Detroit Lions Received
- player Bill Cooke
- pick 1979 eighth round pick (#213-John Mohring)
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Ernie Price (Ernest Price)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Detroit Lions received Bill Cooke and 1979 eighth round pick (#213-John Mohring), while Seattle Seahawks received Ernie Price (Ernest Price). The deal is judged by what those assets actually produced after the exchange, including supported downstream draft outcomes.
What Detroit Lions Received
Detroit received Bill Cooke and Seattle's 1979 eighth-round pick at No. 213. Cooke played 12 games with three starts for Detroit in 1978, and the pick became linebacker John Mohring. The package produced some use but less direct value than Price gave Seattle.
What Seattle Seahawks Received
Seattle acquired defensive end Ernie Price. Price played 12 games with 11 starts for the Seahawks in 1978 and added four games in 1979, giving Seattle an immediate starting end during the club's first winning season.
How the Value Developed
The trade was not lopsided, but Seattle received the better immediate football result. Price stepped directly into the starting lineup, while Cooke's Detroit stay was short and the late-round pick did not create enough additional value to erase that edge. That comparison focuses on the contribution each acquiring club actually received rather than treating the original draft slot or veteran reputation as value by itself.
Why the Difference Matters
This was a standard-tier transaction, so the grades should reflect the size of the practical football difference without turning a useful role player into a franchise-defining asset. Longevity, starting responsibility, production, and any well-supported downstream pick result all matter. The side with the better combination of those outcomes deserves the stronger grade, while a short or empty return remains near the middle or lower end of the scale.
Final Verdict
Detroit Lions receives a C+ and Seattle Seahawks receives a B. The final call is Seattle Seahawks Win. The trade was not lopsided, but Seattle received the better immediate football result. Price stepped directly into the starting lineup, while Cooke's Detroit stay was short and the late-round pick did not create enough additional value to erase that edge.