For the first time in his tenure with the Seahawks, John Schneider reeled in marquee value for one of his stars. But now the pressure is on to replace him.
Schneider traded Frank Clark to Kansas City for a first-round pick and a 2020 second-rounder (with a swap of 2019 thirds), and Seattle now has two first-round picks — 21 and 29 overall — plus overall picks 92, 124, 159.
Their 2020 draft is now projected to include 12 picks, thanks to this deal and comps: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7.
Schneider did with Clark what he was unable to do with Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas: Get good value. Schneider held out too long with both Sherman and Thomas and lost out on any trade value. He let Sherman go for nothing and figures to get only a third-round comp pick for Thomas next year.
This is the first time the Seahawks have had two first-round picks since 2010, when Schneider and Pete Carroll inherited a gift from former GM Tim Ruskell, who had acquired a first-rounder from Denver in the previous draft. Schneider used those two first-rounders, Nos. 6 and 14 overall, on Russell Okung and Thomas.
Schneider seems likely to use one of these picks to move down, but he is going to have to draft at least one pass rusher — top options being Rashan Gary, Clelin Ferrell, Brian Burns, Jaylon Ferguson and D’Andre Walker.
Trading Clark frees up $17.1 million on the salary cap, which will allow the Hawks to add a badly needed veteran rusher or two. Nick Perry, who visited Seattle a few weeks ago, seems a likely addition.
This is the biggest deal Schneider has made since acquiring Duane Brown from Houston in October 2017. It is partly because of that deal that Schneider made this one: The Seahawks are missing their second-rounder this year.
This is the third player trade Schneider has made involving a first-round pick. But the two others went the other way. In 2013, he sent a first, third and seventh to Minnesota for headcase Percy Harvin (whom Schneider later dumped on the Jets for a mere sixth-rounder). And in 2015, the GM sent Max Unger and a first-rounder to New Orleans for Jimmy Graham and a fourth.
The Seahawks have had two first-round picks four other times in franchise history: the 2010 draft mentioned above, 1997, 2000 and 2001.
In 1997, they had an extra pick courtesy of fleecing Chicago for a first for draft bust Rick Mirer. They ended up with Shawn Springs third overall and Walter Jones sixth.
Mike Holmgren added extra first-rounders in 2000 and 2001 by trading Joey Galloway trade to Dallas. Those picks netted Shaun Alexander, Chris McIntosh, Koren Robinson and Steve Hutchinson.
These two picks should net a pass rusher and some more picks that then include another pass rusher. Otherwise, this deal will not look very good in the end.
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 
In fairness, for better or worse they do attach value to the last year of a contract, even for a player they know they won’t keep.
Much of the Seattle sports press (present company excepted) seems to have been caught off guard by this development, although why I’m not sure.
Yes, the draft is heavy with edge rushers. But you can’t assume Pro Bowl-level production from a rookie. If you are KC and want to optimize leverage from Patrick Mahomes’ rookie contract, the price is steep but worth paying. It certainly shows how much more they value Frank Clark over Dee Ford.
As for SEA, hopefully whatever they do with the draft picks will involve a wide receiver and a DB with playmaking potential.
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