Seattle acquired wide receiver Reggie Barrett from Detroit on…
Seattle acquired wide receiver Reggie Barrett from Detroit on April 28, 1994, for a 1995 fifth-round pick. Barrett produced only a small amount of receiving value, while Detroit used the No. 141 selection on linebacker Stephen Boyd. Boyd became a long-term Lions starter and two-time Pro Bowler. Turning a reserve receiver into Boyd makes this one of the clearest wins in the wave for Detroit.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1995 5th round pick (141st overall, Stephen Boyd)
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Reggie Barrett
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Seattle sought receiving depth in the spring of 1994 and sent Detroit a future fifth-round pick for Reggie Barrett. The Seahawks' own all-time trade history and the league transaction record place the exchange on April 28. Detroit was willing to move a veteran reserve and wait until the 1995 draft for compensation. At the time, it looked like a routine depth-for-pick deal with little reason to expect a major long-term consequence.
What Each Team Received
Barrett's NFL career produced only 10 games, four receptions, 67 yards and one touchdown. Detroit's fifth-rounder became No. 141 in the 1995 draft, where the Lions selected linebacker Stephen Boyd. Boyd developed into a core defender, played 86 NFL games and became a multi-year starter for Detroit. He earned two Pro Bowl selections, giving the Lions far more performance and longevity than a typical fifth-round return, let alone the player they had traded away.
How the Value Developed
This result is driven by Detroit's draft hit rather than by Seattle overpaying in process. A future fifth-rounder was a reasonable cost for a veteran receiver who might have filled a role. The Seahawks simply did not receive enough production from Barrett, while Detroit turned that same asset into one of its better mid-round selections of the era. Boyd's sustained starting work and honors make the value difference much larger than the modest original trade price suggests.
Final Verdict
Detroit Lions Win. Detroit earns an A because it converted a low-cost outgoing player into a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker and long-term starter. Seattle earns a D because Barrett provided almost no sustained receiving value before his NFL career ended. The Seahawks' initial risk was small, but grades measure realized football value, and the Lions produced an unusually strong return from the pick they acquired.