Houston traded defensive end Jason Babin to Seattle on…
Houston traded defensive end Jason Babin to Seattle on September 1, 2007, and received safety Michael Boulware in return. Boulware appeared in all 16 games for Houston that season as a depth defender and special-teams contributor. Babin played only four games across two Seattle seasons before leaving, so Houston received the clearer direct value from the player-for-player swap.
Houston Texans Received
- player Michael Boulware
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Jason Babin
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Seattle and Houston completed a direct player-for-player trade on September 1, 2007. The Seahawks acquired defensive end Jason Babin, while the Texans received safety Michael Boulware. The deal did not involve a draft choice. That distinction matters because older summaries can make the Houston return look like unspecified pick compensation when the actual counterasset was an established Seattle defensive back.
Houston's Return
Boulware appeared in all 16 regular-season games for Houston in 2007. He did not become a long-term starter, but he supplied defensive depth and special-teams availability throughout the season. His tenure lasted only that year, so the Texans did not uncover a cornerstone. Still, they received a full season of usable roster value from the player acquired in the exchange.
Seattle's Return
Babin's Seattle chapter was even smaller. He appeared in two games in 2007 and two more in 2008, never establishing a regular role in the Seahawks pass rush. Babin later became a Pro Bowl-caliber sack producer with other teams, but that breakout occurred after Seattle had moved on. Trade grading must credit the production the acquiring club actually received, not later career accomplishments elsewhere.
Value in Hindsight
Neither team generated a major long-term payoff, but Houston's one full season of Boulware outweighed Seattle's four-game return from Babin. The transaction also shows how the actual consideration changes the comparison completely: Houston did not simply receive an abstract future asset; it received a veteran player who took the field throughout 2007.
Final Verdict
Houston Texans Win. Houston earns a C+ for obtaining a season of depth and special-teams availability from Boulware. Seattle receives a D+ because Babin appeared in only four games over two years for the Seahawks. The Texans won a modest exchange, even though Babin eventually enjoyed far greater success after leaving Seattle.