Seattle acquired wide receiver Keary Colbert from Denver on…
Seattle acquired wide receiver Keary Colbert from Denver on September 17, 2008, for a conditional 2009 fifth-round selection that became No. 140 overall. Colbert appeared in seven games with four starts for Seattle but caught only seven passes for 52 yards and one touchdown. That limited production did not justify the fifth-round value the Seahawks surrendered.
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 2009 conditional fifth-round pick (140th overall, Johnny Knox )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Keary Colbert
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Seattle acquired wide receiver Keary Colbert from Denver on September 17, 2008. Seattle’s contemporary announcement described the compensation as a 2009 draft choice, and the club’s all-time trade history identifies it as a conditional fifth-round selection that became No. 140 overall. That date and pick detail are important because they show Seattle paid more than a negligible late-round flyer for immediate receiving help.
Seattle’s Return
Colbert did not produce enough to validate the cost. He appeared in seven games for the Seahawks, started four, and caught seven passes for 52 yards with one touchdown. Seattle was dealing with receiver injuries and needed help, so the motivation was understandable. The result, however, was only a small amount of short-term production before the relationship ended, leaving little lasting value from the acquisition.
Denver’s Return
Denver converted Colbert into a fifth-round selection in the next draft. Even without assigning all later value to one player, that is meaningful future capital for a receiver the Broncos were prepared to move. The pick settled at No. 140 overall, giving Denver a useful roster-building resource. Relative to Seattle’s seven-catch return, the draft asset provided the stronger combination of flexibility and expected value.
Value in Hindsight
This trade shows the risk of paying mid-Day-3 capital for emergency veteran help. Seattle’s need was real, but need alone does not create value. Colbert’s production was too limited and too brief to offset a fifth-round selection. Denver, meanwhile, turned an expendable player into a concrete draft asset. The gap is not enormous because the pick was not premium capital, but it is clear enough to favor the Broncos.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos Win. Denver earns a B for converting Keary Colbert into a 2009 fifth-round choice, while Seattle receives a D for paying that price and getting only seven catches across seven games. The Seahawks’ injury-driven reasoning was understandable, but the realized return was too small. Denver extracted the stronger asset from a player it no longer needed.