Seattle acquired tackle Ron Heller from Tampa Bay in May 1988…
Seattle acquired tackle Ron Heller from Tampa Bay in May 1988 for nose tackle Randy Edwards and a 1989 sixth-round pick, No. 154 Derrick Little. Heller never played a regular-season game for Seattle, but the Seahawks flipped him in August to Philadelphia for a 1989 fourth-round pick, No. 103, turning the acquisition into better draft capital.
Seattle Seahawks Received
- player Ron Heller (Ramon)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Randy Edwards
- pick 1989 sixth round pick (#154-Derrick Little)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Seattle acquired veteran tackle Ron Heller from Tampa Bay on May 4, 1988, sending nose tackle Randy Edwards and a 1989 sixth-round choice in return. That sixth-rounder became No. 154 and was used on Derrick Little. Heller's stay in Seattle was brief, but the trade cannot be judged only by whether he eventually appeared in a Seahawks regular-season game.
Seattle's Return
Seattle converted Heller into a more valuable asset before the season. On August 22, the Seahawks traded him to Philadelphia for a 1989 fourth-round pick, No. 103. That selection later became James Henry. In other words, Seattle effectively used Heller as an intermediate trade asset and improved its draft position from the sixth-round level it had surrendered to the fourth-round level it later received.
Tampa Bay's Return
Tampa Bay received Edwards plus the sixth-round choice used on Little. That was a tangible two-piece return and explains why the Buccaneers deserve a passing grade. Heller had already been part of an unusual offseason in which Philadelphia tried to acquire him before contract issues sent him back to Tampa Bay, so moving him again for a player and a pick had clear roster logic.
Value in Hindsight
The decisive advantage is Seattle's ability to recycle the acquired player. Heller did not need to become a long-term Seahawk to create value; his market value itself was the return. Turning the package into a fourth-round asset only a few months later improved Seattle's draft leverage. Tampa Bay received real consideration, but the Seahawks extracted more from the same player before the regular season began.
Final Verdict
Seattle Seahawks Win. Seattle earns a B+ for acquiring Heller and quickly converting him into a fourth-round pick, a stronger draft asset than the sixth-rounder included in the original package. Tampa Bay gets a C because Edwards and No. 154 were legitimate consideration, but the Buccaneers surrendered an asset Seattle immediately monetized at a higher level. Seattle wins through smart asset management.