Seattle acquired tight end Jacob Hollister from New England…
Seattle acquired tight end Jacob Hollister from New England on April 29, 2019 for a 2020 seventh-round pick. Hollister became a useful receiving option, catching 66 passes for 558 yards and six touchdowns across the next two Seahawks seasons. New England later included pick No. 241 with Rob Gronkowski’s rights in the 2020 Tampa Bay trade, so the Patriots did recover transactional value from the selection.
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2020 seventh-round pick (No. 241; later included in the Rob Gronkowski trade)
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Jacob Hollister
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
On April 29, 2019, Seattle sent a 2020 seventh-round draft choice to New England for tight end Jacob Hollister. The pick eventually landed at No. 241. Both clubs’ records and the league transaction wire confirm the one-player-for-one-pick structure.
Why Seattle Made the Move
The Seahawks were looking for inexpensive competition behind Will Dissly, Nick Vannett and Ed Dickson. Hollister had only eight catches in two Patriots seasons, but he offered athletic receiving ability and a manageable contract. The move became more important when injuries and roster changes created a larger role during the 2019 season.
Hollister’s Seattle Production
Hollister caught 41 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games during 2019, then added 25 receptions for 209 yards and three scores in 2020. Across two seasons, Seattle received 66 catches, 558 yards and six touchdowns from a seventh-round acquisition. That is a healthy return for such a low-cost trade.
What New England Did With the Pick
The Patriots did not simply spend No. 241 on a rookie. In April 2020, they sent Rob Gronkowski’s rights and that seventh-rounder to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round pick. The seventh was therefore a useful piece in a larger transaction, though its independent value remained modest.
Final Verdict
Seattle earns a B+ because Hollister became a productive rotational starter for two seasons at minimal acquisition cost. New England receives a C+ for turning a surplus player into draft capital that later helped facilitate another trade. Both sides extracted value, but Seattle got the clearer direct football return.
Seattle received two productive seasons from Jacob Hollister, including six touchdowns and spot-starting work. New England turned the seventh-round pick into part of the Rob Gronkowski trade package, preserving transactional value, but the Seahawks realized the clearer direct on-field contribution.