Seattle acquired quarterback Jeff Kemp from San Francisco on…
Seattle acquired quarterback Jeff Kemp from San Francisco on May 19, 1987, for a 1988 fifth-round pick that became No. 131 overall. Kemp served as a multi-year Seahawks backup and provided useful spot-starting insurance, including five starts in 1991. For a fifth-round price, that amount of veteran quarterback utility gave Seattle the stronger return.
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 1988 fifth-round pick (131st overall, Dennis Price )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Jeff Kemp
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Seattle acquired quarterback Jeff Kemp from San Francisco on May 19, 1987, for a fifth-round selection in the 1988 draft. The pick became No. 131 overall. Seattle was buying experienced quarterback depth behind its established starter, while the 49ers were converting a reserve passer into future draft capital. A fifth-round price is meaningful but manageable when the return can protect a team at the sport’s most important position.
Seattle’s Return
Kemp gave Seattle multiple seasons of quarterback insurance. In 1987 he appeared in thirteen games and completed twenty-three of thirty-three passes for 396 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He later made five starts in 1991 when the Seahawks needed him. The results were uneven in that later stretch, but the ability to turn to an experienced reserve over several seasons had genuine roster value.
San Francisco’s Return
The 49ers received the 131st selection, giving them another fifth-round opportunity. That is a respectable return for a quarterback who was not expected to be their starter. The choice did not produce a downstream player whose contribution clearly exceeded Kemp’s multi-year utility in Seattle. San Francisco’s logic was sound, but the draft asset did not develop into enough value to create a winning margin.
Value in Hindsight
Backup quarterback trades should be judged differently from deals for stars. Seattle did not need Kemp to become a franchise passer; it needed competent insurance that could enter games and make starts when required. He supplied that function for years. Paying a fifth-rounder for credible quarterback depth can be a strong use of resources, especially when the surrendered pick fails to create a larger return for the selling team.
Final Verdict
Seattle Seahawks Win. Seattle earns a B for obtaining multi-year quarterback depth and several spot starts for a fifth-round selection. San Francisco receives a C because collecting No. 131 was reasonable, but the pick did not produce enough direct value to surpass Kemp’s practical role. The Seahawks captured the more useful football return at an acceptable cost.