The Percy Harvin Trade Likely Changed The Seahawks Draft Strategy

August 27, 2011; Englewood, CO, USA; Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider walks along the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Aside from filling one of the teams biggest offseason needs, the Harvin trade also likely drastically changes the draft strategy for the Seahawks. Before the trade, I thought that the Seahawks were likely to break from their convention and actually trade up in this draft. The team had few needs, and more than enough early and mid-round picks to fill them.

Plus, they had 12 total picks, and there was simply no way 12 rookies were going to make this roster. No matter how out of character it might be, the team needed to use some of that draft capital to make sure they got the “right” guys. Failing to do so is simply a waste of valuable assets.

The Harvin trade definitely changes things. Even though the Seahawks don’t pick until #56, I can no longer see them moving up to get a particular player.

There’s two reasons for the change. Obviously, not having a 1st round pick is a big deal. The team now must now try and find key players with later picks, and high volume drafting is usually the best way to assure that this is possible.

The 2nd reason is simply the lack of “good” picks. Yes, the Seahawks do still have 10 draft picks, but they also have the the least amount of draft capital of any team in the NFL. Let me explain that. Remember that draft pick value chart? well if you add up the value of all the picks that each team has, the Seahawks come in at #32.

That’s because that Seattle now only has 2 picks in the top 100. Most of their picks are in rounds 5, 6 and 7. Those picks aren’t worth much unfortunately.

Those picks also tend to be high risk, high reward, picks under John Schneider. Many have worked out (Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, even JR Sweezy so far), while others haven’t faired as well (Jameson Konz, Pep Levingston, and Mark Legree). That is simply the nature of late round picks.

Before the trade, the Seahawks had the luxury of skipping the majority of this high-risk game for a year. The had the ability to move around in top half of the draft and get players they knew were going to be impact players; removing the risk, but keeping the reward.

Now, that’s no longer possible. The Seahawks about back to trying to play the late round checkers again, and to make that work, you simply have to have a lot of picks.

Luckily for the Seahawks, John Schneider is pretty darn good at playing this particular game.