Seattle acquired punter Mat McBriar from Denver on August 23,…
Seattle acquired punter Mat McBriar from Denver on August 23, 2003, for a conditional 2004 draft choice. Seattle’s official trade history says the criteria were not met, so Denver never received the pick. McBriar was waived before becoming Seattle’s regular-season punter, meaning the Seahawks also realized almost no direct value despite later success McBriar achieved with another franchise.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Mat McBriar
Denver Broncos Received
- pick conditional 2004 draft choice (trade criteria not met)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Seattle acquired punter Mat McBriar from Denver on August 23, 2003, in exchange for a conditional choice in the 2004 draft. Seattle’s official history states that the trade criteria were not met. That detail is central to the valuation because Denver did not actually receive a draft selection. The Broncos were moving a rookie specialist, while Seattle was taking a short-term look at its punting options.
Seattle’s Return
McBriar did not establish himself as Seattle’s regular-season punter. The Seahawks waived him before the season, so the trade produced essentially no direct on-field return for the club. His later career is notable because he became an accomplished punter with Dallas, but that development occurred after Seattle released him. It would be misleading to credit the Seahawks with value they did not retain.
Denver’s Return
Denver’s conditional compensation also disappeared. Because the criteria were not satisfied, the Broncos never received the contemplated 2004 choice. They therefore moved McBriar without obtaining a usable draft asset in return. At the moment of the trade, that was an acceptable risk if the player was unlikely to make Denver’s roster, but the realized result still amounts to no meaningful long-term benefit.
Value in Hindsight
The most tempting mistake is to judge this deal through McBriar’s later Pro Bowl seasons. Those seasons belong to Dallas, not Seattle, and do not improve Seattle’s return. The correct comparison is what each participant actually kept: Seattle received a brief preseason look, and Denver received no exercised pick. Both sides exited with negligible value, making the transaction a wash despite the player’s later success elsewhere.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Seattle and Denver each receive a C-. The Seahawks did not turn McBriar into regular-season production, while the Broncos’ conditional draft choice was never conveyed. Neither club suffered a meaningful premium loss, but neither created a lasting asset either. McBriar’s later accomplishments are an interesting footnote, not evidence that one participant won this particular exchange.