Atlanta traded offensive tackle Michael Thompson to Seattle…
Atlanta traded offensive tackle Michael Thompson to Seattle on April 10, 2003, for a conditional 2004 draft choice. Seattle's official trade history states that the condition was not met, so Atlanta never received the pick. Thompson did not make Seattle's regular-season roster, leaving the Falcons without compensation and the Seahawks without on-field production from the acquisition.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2004 conditional draft pick (not conveyed)
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Michael Thompson
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Seattle acquired offensive tackle Michael Thompson from Atlanta on April 10, 2003, offering a conditional selection in the 2004 draft. Contemporary reporting described the compensation as a low-round conditional choice, and Seattle's official all-time trade history later recorded that the criteria were not met. Atlanta therefore did not receive a draft pick from the deal.
Atlanta's Return
The Falcons moved a former first-round selection who had not developed into the long-term tackle they envisioned. Their potential compensation depended entirely on Thompson meeting the trade condition in Seattle. Because he did not, Atlanta received no final draft asset. Still, the Falcons also avoided watching Thompson become a productive Seattle starter after the move, limiting the opportunity cost.
Seattle's Return
For the Seahawks, Thompson represented a low-risk attempt to add competition at offensive tackle. The experiment did not last. Seattle waived him in August before the regular season, and he never appeared in a regular-season game for the club. Since the conditional choice was not conveyed, the Seahawks spent no realized draft capital, but they also received no measurable game contribution.
Value in Hindsight
The final outcome is essentially a wash. Atlanta obtained no compensation, while Seattle obtained no regular-season production. The conditional structure protected the Seahawks from paying for an unsuccessful trial and prevented the transaction from becoming a meaningful loss. Atlanta moved on from a player who likewise did not generate a regrettable breakout in Seattle.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Both teams receive a C. Atlanta's expected draft return disappeared when the condition was not met, and Seattle's acquired tackle failed to make the regular-season roster. Because neither side surrendered or received a lasting asset once the condition expired, the fairest historical judgment is a neutral result rather than a win for either club.