Boston.com is reporting that the New England Patriots have traded Defensive End Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders for a First Round Draft Pick in 2011. ESPN and the Boston Herald web-sites are also reporting that the trade has happened.
Richard Seymour’s Patriots Career
Seymour was drafted by the New England Patriots as the sixth overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft. He has played Defensive End for the Patriots since then. Richard has played in five Pro-Bowls and been named an All-Pro four times during his careers with New England. Richard Seymour was in the last year of his contract. With other players’ contracts also due to expire at the end of this year, the Patriots have traded Seymour for a first round pick rather than watching him walk away next year.
Seymour was part of three Super Bowl championship teams with the New England Patriots. The move leaves the Patriots with Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Jarvis Green, Ron Brace, Derrick Burgess and Myron Pryor on the defensive line.
Seymour for Draft Pick: Good Trade?
The trade also leaves fans, including myself [he was on my fantasy football team], bewildered. Have Seymour’s injuries caught up to him? Or is Bill Belichick already preparing for next year? Will the other defensive lineman be able to fill in the gap Richard will leave? With Tedy Bruschi’s retirement earlier this week, the New England Patriots defense has changed significantly from what we ere expecting to play with this year.
The trade leaves us all with many questions. Does this move affect who will win the AFC East this year? Do you think Seymour for a first round draft pick is a good trade?
Thanks to Keith Allison for the photo of Richard Seymour.
I think it was a good move for the future. Seymour can be replaced as he has been declining at this point in his career. We can also use the 2011 pick to trade up into the 2010 draft if necessary or wait until 2011 and shop it around for some needs then.
Seymour is one of those guys that I’ll miss terribly (as well as Harrison, Vrabel and Bruschi), but his duty in NE was completed and we need to rebuild an aging, troubled defense.
totally agree Josh…In my opinion he knew Seymour was going to walk at the end of the year and instead of running the risk of getting nothing in return, he spins the guy for a first rounder in 2011. Great move. They value Wilfork and will now make him the #1 priority. I agree with that assessment as well. Seymour was a hell of a player here, but I think he’s entering the back nine of his career. Not sure what Oakland is thinking giving up a #1 pick when they are trying to rebuild.
[...] Richard Seymour Traded to Oakland Raiders for First Round Pick … [...]
While my head says “good move” – we got maximum return on Seymour by trading him now and we reduced salary cap – I have to admit, I am confused by the direction that the Patriots are taking. “In Belichick I trust” – but it is getting harder.