Keeping Matt Hasselbeck Made More Sense Than Trading for Carson Palmer

The trade rumors or conjecture started by NFL.com contributor Gil Brandt over whether or not Seattle should try to induce the Cincinnati Bengals to part with Carson Palmer (in return for wideout Doug Baldwin) should be tempered with the reality that the Seahawks already had an experienced quarterback and let him go.

The Seahawks had an option to make a big enough offer to keep Matt Hasselbeck for the next three years, and passed on that. Keeping Hasselbeck would have made much more sense than giving anything away to get Carson Palmer. Hasselbeck seems to be doing alright in Tennessee.

Sure Palmer has stats that are impressive, but consider who he was throwing to during his "highlight" years. During Palmer's most productive years he had a receiving corps that Matt would have given his eye teeth for at the time.

The main reason coach Pete Carroll and Seahawks GM John Schneider didn't keep Matt Hasselbeck or offer him a longer contract is they are building with youth. This will be even more apparent next year when either Tarvaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst are gone, and Josh Portis is the backup quarterback in front of whoever they decide to pick up in the draft.

Even if the Bengals softened on their position surrounding Palmer, it would not make much sense to have him come to Seattle.

He is not mobile enough and would not improve the Seahawks enough to be worth giving up anyone, let alone Doug Baldwin. I see Baldwin challenging some of Steve Largent's records if he stays healthy.

Even though the Seattle O-line has improved considerably, the Seahawks are not done seeing the  quarterback being sacked a few times a game. Carson Palmer would not hold up under that kind of punishment any better than Matt Hasselbeck did.