Seattle Seahawks received James Jones from Detroit Lions.…

The Exchange

On 1989-08-31, Seattle Seahawks received James Jones, while Detroit Lions received Terry Taylor. The exchange is judged by the regular-season service, draft value, and durability each club actually obtained from those incoming assets. The relatively modest stakes matter when setting the grades, but the comparison still rewards the side that converted its return into more useful football value. Seattle Seahawks Return James Jones stayed with Seattle through 1992 as a reserve and occasional starter, giving the Seahawks useful multi-year backfield depth without becoming a major offensive piece. The C+ grade reflects the length and quality of that contribution relative to what Seattle Seahawks surrendered. It does not require a star-level outcome; it measures whether the incoming asset created dependable value for the club that controlled it. Detroit Lions Return Terry Taylor produced five interceptions for Detroit across parts of three seasons, including four in 1991, giving the Lions the more impactful direct return. The B- grade applies the same standard to Detroit Lions, emphasizing actual games, starts, production, or retained draft value rather than hypothetical upside. That keeps both sides of the exchange on the same scale. Value in Hindsight The comparison favors the return that became more useful and lasted longer, while giving appropriate credit when both clubs received real contributions. Seattle sent Terry Taylor to Detroit for fullback James Jones on August 31, 1989. Jones remained with Seattle through 1992 as a reserve and occasional starter, while Taylor produced five interceptions for Detroit across parts of three seasons, including four in 1991. Detroit received the slightly stronger direct defensive return, while Seattle still obtained useful multi-year depth. The hindsight call remains proportional to a minor transaction: useful depth, a productive late-round selection, or a short starting stint can matter without being treated like a franchise-changing move. Final Verdict The final call is Detroit Lions Win. Seattle Seahawks earns C+, and Detroit Lions earns B-. Those grades reflect the documented package, the service or draft value that followed, and the relative durability of each club's return. The result stays focused on what the teams actually received from this transaction rather than on unrelated later events.