Minnesota acquired veteran safety John Harris from Seattle on…
Minnesota acquired veteran safety John Harris from Seattle on September 2, 1986 for a 1987 seventh-round pick that became No. 184, Roland Barbay. Harris immediately became a Vikings starter and intercepted nine passes over his three Minnesota seasons while making 37 starts. Converting a late-round choice into that much secondary experience and production gave Minnesota the stronger side of the trade.
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player John Harris
Seattle Seahawks Received
- pick 1987 seventh-round pick (No. 184 overall - Roland Barbay)
Trade Analysis
Why Minnesota Made the Move
Minnesota added John Harris just before the 1986 season after Seattle had employed him for eight years. The cost was a 1987 seventh-round pick, a modest price for an experienced safety who had already shown ball production and durability. Harris arrived with a long record of availability and immediately gave the Vikings a proven defensive back rather than a developmental late-round prospect.
What Harris Did for the Vikings
Harris became a regular starter at once. He started 15 games in 1986 and intercepted three passes, then added three interceptions in both 1987 and 1988. Across those three Minnesota seasons he made 37 starts and produced nine interceptions. That is a substantial return from a trade that required only a seventh-round selection, especially because the Vikings were buying immediate certainty in the secondary.
What Seattle Received
The Seahawks received Minnesota's 1987 seventh-round choice, No. 184 overall, and used it on Roland Barbay. Seattle was able to turn a veteran departure into a draft asset, which keeps the deal from being a giveaway. Still, seventh-round selections are inherently uncertain, and the resulting return did not develop into an equivalent run of starting production for Seattle.
How the Value Settled
The trade is a good example of why late-round picks can be worth spending on established veterans. Harris was not merely depth; he started for three seasons and created turnovers. Seattle received fair compensation for a player it was prepared to move, but Minnesota captured the more dependable and more visible value.
Final Verdict
Minnesota earns a B+ and Seattle a C. The Seahawks recovered a pick, yet the Vikings converted a seventh-rounder into 37 starts and nine interceptions. That clear difference in direct production makes this a Minnesota Vikings Win.