Seattle acquired defensive tackle Norman Hand from New…
Seattle acquired defensive tackle Norman Hand from New Orleans on April 27, 2003, for the 203rd selection in that year’s draft, a sixth-round pick used on Kareem Kelly. Hand gave Seattle six games and four starts in 2003, including one sack, but his stay was brief. The modest production roughly matched the limited value of the late-round cost.
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 2003 sixth-round pick (203rd overall, Kareem Kelly )
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Norman Hand
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Seattle acquired defensive tackle Norman Hand from New Orleans on April 27, 2003, sending the Saints a sixth-round selection in the same draft. The choice was No. 203 overall and became Kareem Kelly. The timing made the trade a classic draft-weekend value swap: Seattle wanted immediate veteran help on the defensive front, while New Orleans was willing to exchange Hand for another late selection.
Seattle’s Return
Hand’s Seattle tenure was short but not empty. He appeared in six games during the 2003 season, started four of them, and recorded a sack. That gave the Seahawks real defensive-line snaps for a sixth-round price. The limitation is duration. Seattle did not obtain multiple seasons or a major impact performance, so the acquisition never developed into the kind of bargain that would support a strong winning grade.
New Orleans’ Return
The Saints recovered the 203rd pick rather than simply releasing or losing Hand without compensation. Sixth-round choices offer inexpensive roster opportunities, but their expected value is modest. Kareem Kelly did not become the sort of direct return that dramatically changed the equation. New Orleans made a practical asset-conversion decision, yet the benefit remained in the same limited range as Seattle’s short-term use of Hand.
Value in Hindsight
Both teams received something plausible for what they surrendered. Seattle paid a late pick and got several games from a veteran defensive tackle. New Orleans gave up that veteran and gained another chance late in the draft. Neither side found an enduring starter, major downstream asset, or premium surplus. That symmetry is important: the transaction worked as a small roster adjustment, not as a defining win or loss.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Seattle and New Orleans each receive a C. Hand supplied useful but brief defensive-line work, while the Saints obtained a sixth-round choice without turning it into a clearly greater return. The cost and benefit remained modest on both sides, and the available results do not create enough separation to justify declaring either organization the winner.