If we can get him signed without overpaying, fine. We'll see. That's the hometown discount. It posits that he likes it here and will sign without pushing for top dollar in the free agent market because he values quality of life. If it plays out that way, I'll be pleasantly surprised. I imagine the Seahawks want to sign him at a certain price but will back off if it becomes a bidding war. He's going to be worth more to other teams. Teams that are closer. Teams that really may be one or two key pieces away. If that's the case, we should go with young guys and coach them up.
As for other offers, obviously none as generous as ours or he would have been elsewhere. My best guess is Williams would have gone for less if the Hawks had held firm. Perhaps to another team, which would have suited me fine. If we could have gotten him straight up for a third, I'd say the value was reasonable but it would still be a bad move given where our team was at. When Diggs was good, we got him for a fifth if memory serves. That was a good trade. One of the few these last years.
We paid a lot for Duane Brown but one could argue we needed to. And he held up well so it turned out alright, though I was skeptical at first. When I think of great Seahawks trades, I think of Wilson (which Pete was forced into) and Lynch. I can think of more really bad trades. Harvin. Unger. Adams. Williams. The first three -- Harvin, Unger and Adams -- are far worse than Williams in the sense of paying way too much. But given the context, the sheer idiocy of the moment in time, the obviousness of the situation and the unwillingness to see reality as it was, Williams is right up there. In that sense, maybe the worst, because the others one could make a reasonable case for at the time. Not ones I would have made but reasonable just the same.
If he's worth more to other teams, it sounds like there's a market to trade him if/when we tag him.
That being said I thought about the trades and a few thoughts came to mind.
We got a 7th along with diggs for that 5th as if it wasn't good enough already.
A 2nd/3rd for Duane brown and a 5th was a steal, he made a pro bowl or all pro 3/5 years here at one of the most important positions, I'd make that trade again in a heartbeat at any point in seahawks history. He could have played RT across from Walt if needed
Kearse a 2nd and 7th for Sheldon Richardson and a 7th - - - I'm surprised you didn't mention this one, because this is literally what you're afraid of with leonard. One year of play, signed elsewhere, and we signed too many fa's to even get a comp. Literally a SIGNIFICANTLY worse trade (Leonard actually played well here) with dudes at similar positions for similar prices for one year from a new york team, and it still wasn't bad enough for you to remember. Food for thought, especially since leonard is even remotely worth discussing tagging and trading. However much you hate the leonard trade, you can't tell me he isn't better than the 1 year 8 million stud Richardson got in free agency.
Darryl tapp for Chris Clemons and a 4th. Fun fact, in his 4 years here Clemons had 9 more sacks than tapp had in his 12 year career (38-29). Clemons was the og bad ass in a carroll defense, I'm glad he got the ring before leaving.
A 5th for Leon Washington and a 7th.... Unlike Clemons, left right before the superbowl, but I'd kill for a returner like that again.
Jacob Martin, markevious Bingo, and a 3rd for clowney. Funny you didn't mention this either, because like Richardson, 1 year, similar compensation, d-line again, no comp pick. Once again, makes you wonder why leonard was such an atrocious trade, when you didn't even mention clowney or Richardson. Leonard still has a chance to be re-signed, tag+trade, or comp pick. Any of which make the two I've mentioned objectively worse.
Frank clark and a 3rd for chiefs 1,2,3- was a good trade in return value, WORST trade in seahawks history in terms of results.... The picks resulted in collier, Barton(
), and Lewis(meh). We traded for clowney and jamal in prayer for a pass rush. The next 4 years clark made 3 pro bowls, made 3 superbowls and a conference championship, and won 2 of the bowls. He's also now 3rd all time in playoff sacks.
You sold them short on a couple, but to be fair at the verrrry beginning. More interesting though, you forgot to mention two of them VERY similar to Leonard in circumstance, despite howling about he was one of the most egregious of Pete's errors. And this is without even remotely knowing how Leonard's trade turns out. Also I gotta say, I don't know how anyone could try to tell me with a straight face that these were all Pete's fault and Schneider, unburdened from Carroll's dead weight will suddenly start drafting like the early days.
Anyways If leonard walks like the other two with nothing to show I'll be the first to tell you that I was a buffoon and simply wrong. But even if he gets like a 4th round comp, he'd probably only be the third worst trade for a defensive Lineman with 1 year left on his contract in the last 6 years..... God I hope third times the charm, what a ridiculous sentence to type out.
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