Houston moved from No. 17 to No. 14 in the 1996 draft by…
Houston moved from No. 17 to No. 14 in the 1996 draft by sending Seattle defensive lineman Glenn Montgomery along with the 17th pick. The Oilers selected Eddie George, who became the franchise’s all-time rushing leader and powered the team through its move to Tennessee. Seattle immediately flipped No. 17 to Detroit and came away with Pete Kendall and Reggie Brown, so the Seahawks created useful value. George’s decade-defining impact still makes Houston the clear winner.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Glenn Montgomery
- pick 1996 1st round pick (17th overall subsequently traded, Reggie Brown )
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1996 1st round pick (14th overall, Eddie George)
Trade Analysis
Seattle did considerably better in this trade than the headline result suggests. The Seahawks moved down only three spots, acquired veteran defensive lineman Glenn Montgomery, and then traded the 17th pick to Detroit. That second move brought Seattle selections 21 and 91, which became offensive lineman Pete Kendall and linebacker Reggie Brown. Kendall developed into a long-term NFL starter and spent five seasons with the Seahawks. In other words, Seattle turned No. 14 into multiple pieces and did not waste the value it received.
Houston simply landed the player who changed the equation. The Oilers selected Eddie George at No. 14. George immediately won Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the workhorse around whom the franchise built its offense during the relocation from Houston to Tennessee. He rushed for 10,009 yards for the Oilers/Titans, posted seven 1,000-yard seasons, and became the franchise leader in rushing attempts, rushing yards and touchdowns. His durability and production were central to Tennessee’s late-1990s rise, including the 1999 team that reached Super Bowl XXXIV.
The transaction also shows why draft trades should be judged on realized outcomes rather than the simple number of assets. Seattle received more pieces and converted them intelligently. A B-level return is appropriate because Kendall in particular was a legitimate starter. Houston received one primary asset, but that asset became a foundational player whose value endured for nearly a decade.
The Oilers did have to include Montgomery to move up, and Seattle’s downstream return prevents this from being one-sided. Still, when a three-slot climb yields a franchise rushing leader and a centerpiece of a Super Bowl run, the team moving up has clearly won. The Oilers/Titans earn the top grade for identifying and securing George.