Seattle acquired Leon Washington and a seventh-round pick…
Seattle acquired Leon Washington and a seventh-round pick from the Jets for the fifth-round selection used on John Conner. Washington became an award-winning return specialist during three Seahawks seasons, while Seattle also selected Dexter Davis with the additional choice. His direct special-teams contribution gives Seattle a clear advantage without relying on what he accomplished before the trade.
New York Jets Received
- pick 2010 5th round pick (139th overall, John Conner )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Leon Washington
- pick 2010 7th round pick (236th overall, Dexter Davis )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On April 24, 2010, the Jets traded running back and return specialist Leon Washington plus the 236th overall selection to Seattle for pick number 139. New York used the fifth-round choice on fullback John Conner. Seattle selected Dexter Davis with the seventh-rounder. Both drafted players therefore belong to the teams that actually held and used those choices.
Seattle Seahawks Return
Washington supplied the Seahawks with a high-impact return specialist over three seasons. He earned second-team All-Pro recognition in 2010 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2012. His Seattle production is the basis for this grade, rather than the honors he had already earned with the Jets. Davis was an additional draft opportunity, but Washington alone provided the most distinctive value in the package.
New York Jets Return
Conner gave New York a young fullback after the club exchanged a veteran returner and a later choice for an earlier pick. The position had a legitimate place in the Jets' offense. Still, moving up in the draft does not by itself establish a superior return. The relevant comparison is the player acquired and the football role he filled against what Washington delivered in Seattle.
Value in Hindsight
The strongest result came from the veteran component rather than the pick swap. Seattle received recognized special-teams performance after making the trade, including honors across more than one season. That outcome demonstrates a realized benefit without projecting a career onto either drafted player. New York's decision may have fit its roster plans, but Seattle extracted the more valuable contribution from the assets it obtained.
Final Verdict
Seattle Seahawks Win. Seattle earns an A- for converting a fifth-round selection into an award-winning returner and an additional pick. The Jets receive a C for a limited draft upgrade that surrendered the player with the stronger subsequent impact. The conclusion remains centered on Washington's Seahawks service and gives no extra credit for his earlier New York achievements.