Breaking down the not-so-surprising Percy Harvin trade
A trade that sent wide receiver Percy Harvin from the Seattle Seahawks to the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional mid-round draft pick brought surprising intrigue to an otherwise uneventful Friday afternoon in the NFL.
Only six weeks into the season, the reigning Super Bowl champions are giving up a star receiver they acquired for a haul of draft selections just 19 months ago. The Jets, meanwhile, are surrendering what could be a valuable pick for an expensive veteran receiver who has had his share of injury issues.
With mid-season trades being rare in the NFL, especially those involving big names, the report had many scratching their heads, wondering whether it was actually true.
With the initial news now settled, maybe we all shouldn't be so surprised.
More than money
The salary cap space saved by trading Harvin will help the Seahawks sign quarterback Russell Wilson to what is certain to be a massive contract extension, but the trade was likely about much more than that.
While Harvin is still a dangerous offensive weapon, whose rare ability was put on full display on football's biggest stage earlier this year, the Seahawks' success has and will continue to be about so much more than one player.
That very Super Bowl championship, among other things, allows us to overlook the fact Harvin was limited to only six regular season games in a Seahawks uniform, in which he tallied 23 catches for 150 yards and no touchdowns.
Granted, five 2014 regular season games makes for a relatively small sample size, but that was evidently all the Seahawks needed to determine that - considering offensive schematics and reported issues in the locker room - Harvin simply wasn't a fit with the organization moving forward.
Desperate times
Enter the despairing 1-6 New York Jets.
While the running game has been a bright spot so far, struggles from quarterback Geno Smith and the passing game are playing a big part in what is already getting dangerously close to a lost season.
Needing playmakers in the worst way, the Jets took a chance on Harvin, hoping to open up the offense heading into a favorable part of their schedule.
The contractual obligations are significant on the surface, as Harvin will count roughly $10 million against the cap for each of the next four years. However, the Jets are more than capable of taking on that salary, and a lack of guaranteed money beyond this season will allow the team to cut ties with the 26-year-old at any point they so choose.
The draft-pick compensation is a factor, of course, but the conditions are likely dependent upon Harvin's production, somewhat ensuring that what New York eventually gives the Seahawks is likely to reflect the value they get out of Harvin.
It's a risk, sure, but one that is not at all surprising considering the way the Jets' offense has started the season. Many jobs may be on the line in the not too distant future unless New York turns its season around.
The Jets will hope that Harvin's injury issues are behind him and that concerns over his affect on a locker room are overblown. They have to.
What is clear, however, is that the Seahawks were understandably ready to move on from Harvin, and the Jets - more so than any other team - were in position to take a chance on a high-risk, low-reward deal.
How it all works out remains to be seen, but in an era when big-name trades are so rare at any time, especially during the season, this isn't a deal that should be all that surprising. In the end, it could make sense for both teams.