Marshawn Lynch Trade: Why the Bills Trade To the Seahawks Is A Bad Deal

After months of speculation, the Buffalo Bills traded running back Marshawn Lynch to the Seattle Seahawks, reportedly for a fourth-round pick next year and a conditional pick in 2012.

The story with the Buffalo Bills in recent years has been how they haven't been able to get many decisions right regarding their roster or the front office. Bad decisions have turned the franchise into a perennial bottom feeder, and the trade of Lynch is just another symptom.

Lynch, a first-round pick for the Bills in 2007, hasn't produced much since his sophomore season in 2008.

Following the 2008 season, Lynch was arrested and convicted on a misdemeanor weapons charge and then ran for only 450 yards in 13 games last year with Fred Jackson getting most of the carries.

The Bills then drafted running back C.J. Spiller in the 2010 draft which, along with Jackson, put Lynch's role on the team into question. But rather than trade Lynch away at that point, when he would've had higher value, they waited until now.

Lynch has not played much, carrying the ball 37 times for 164 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Between his diminished role on the team, and his ankle injury suffered in preseason, the Bills seriously de-valued their former first-round pick and once again didn't do themselves any favors.

Now there's always a chance the fourth-round pick they get next year could develop into a very productive player, but that's a longshot.

Had they traded Lynch during the draft, or at the beginning of preseason, they might have gotten a lot more for him.

But it's a fourth-round and not much else, depending on the conditional pick. The Bills still don't have much of a passing game, their quarterback situation isn't something the rest of the league envies, and they just got beat pretty good by the Jets.

So what did this trade accomplish for the Bills?

You're guess is as good as anyone's.