Seattle Seahawks Get Burned: Conditional Pick for Josh Wilson Is for 5th Round

Pete Carroll orchestrated almost 300 moves in his first year as executive vice president of football operations for the Seattle Seahawks.

Most of them are widely accepted as helping the team progress and part of why they won the NFC West and their Wild Card playoff game vs. the New Orleans Saints.

One move, however, drew much scrutiny and dismay from the fan base.

While Josh Wilson didn't meet the size expectations the Seahawk staff have for their cornerbacks, he was certainly a fan favorite. His penchant for big interception returns was a large part of that.

My concern with the trade had little to do with losing a player that was one of my favorites on and off the field. Wilson had grown into what one would expect of a second-round draft pick. He was a starting-caliber corner with good cover skills and additional value on special teams.

My primary concern with the trade was the value placed on Wilson by Carroll and John Schneider. Comments were floating around the NFL that the new Seahawk front office was landing on the wrong side of trade values.  In particular, San Diego felt as though Seattle didn't negotiate and overpaid for Charlie Whitehurst.

Seattle was in a position of power with Wilson. It had a player that was good enough to start in Baltimore, and the Ravens were dreadfully thin on defensive backs.  The Seahawks had an opportunity to play a little hardball with Wilson, if for no other reason than to show GMs around the league that they wouldn't be taken advantage with trades.

After all, what is more important: a late fifth-round draft pick or establishing some credibility in your new league?

Yes, it is a fifth-round pick. Despite the conditional status, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has stated that Wilson did not meet the undisclosed criteria to trigger the pick rising to the fourth round.

Wilson started the final eight games of the season (nine in total). He had a respectable three interceptions, one of which he returned for a TD in overtime vs. the Texans. He added an interception in one of his two playoff starts and was second on the team with 17 passes defensed.

Even though Wilson was in the final year of his contract, his value to the Ravens seemed as though it would be higher than a fifth-round pick. He gave them performance worthy of a higher selection, and most felt a late third-round pick would be appropriate.

It was reported that the undisclosed condition in the trade was that Wilson needed to start 10 games. The concern then, and especially now: It is simple to have a starter stand on the sidelines for the first few plays of a game so the trigger isn't met.  Could it be that is what the Ravens did?

Carroll and Schneider made some great moves over the last season, but with Wilson—let's just say I hope the Ravens don't burn us on the field in 2011 like they did off it in 2010.