Did the Seattle Seahawks give up too much for Percy Harvin? That is a question floating around cyberspace as well as every Seahawks and Vikings blog across the nation.
1st round, 7th round (2013) 3rd round (2014)
Six years, $67 million ($14.5 million fully guaranteed)
That's certainly a load of money and some valuable drafted picks, but you have to consider what you're getting and how it compares to other players with similar skills, production and future expectations of return. Just to start the answer to those questions, there is no comparable player in the entire NFL…
There is no real debate on whether Harvin is a great player, immensely talented and perhaps the more versatile offensive weapon in the NFL. He's proven his arsenal of weaponry each season while at the University of Florida and then the Minnesota Vikings who drafted him in 2009, (1st Rd. 22nd overall), also the year he won rookie of the year honors. Harvin has, however, been somewhat injury prone, missing several games during his four seasons in the NFL. In his first three seasons, he missed just three games due to migrate headaches, which he reports have been medically treated so that it will no longer caused him to miss playing time. Last season (2012), Harvin sustained a high ankle sprain playing in Seattle against the Seahawks. Before this injury, he was considered the front runner for the season MVP award, catching 62 passes for 677 yards through just nine games. What makes these achievements even more impressive is that he did this on a marginal Vikings team with a below average quarterback, Christian Ponder. Some people called it a personality flaw, while others said Percy Harvin was a cancer, a malcontent and a poor teammate in the locker room and on the field. Percy would see things a bit differently from the inside looking out.
There is no real debate that Percy Harvin is a great player, dangerous threat and perhaps the most versatile offensive weapon in the NFL. He's proven his complete arsenal of weaponry each season while at the University of Florida and and then with the Minnesota Vikings who drafted him in 2009 (1st round, 22nd overall), also the year he was awarded rookie of the year honors. Harvin has been somewhat of a health liability, however, missing several games during his four years in the NFL. Migraine headaches caused him to miss three games total in his first three seasons, but Percy has since sought out a medical treatment for his migraines and stated they are no longer a problem for him. In 2012, a high ankle sprain in week nine while playing the Seahawks in Seattle, caused him to miss the remaining seven games of the season. Before the ankle injury, he was considered the favorite to win the NFL MVP award, catching 62 passes for 677 yards and 5 touchdowns (3 receiving, 1 rushing and 1 kick return). What makes these achievements so impressive is that it was only over a nine-game period and that it was his versatility that made him so dangerous to defend. Also, second year QB Christian Ponder struggled throughout his two seasons (2011, 2012) as a starter and because of that, the Vikings relied primarily on their All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson for so many carries to protect Ponder from turnovers and incomplete passes. One can only wonder just how lethal an accomplished quarterback could be with Harvin lining up in so many different positions with his speed and elusiveness. He has lined up as; QB (wildcat), RB (pistol, Pro and I), Flanker, WR (slot, X, Z) and of course he returns kicks and punts with equal skill. He is a nightmare to defend because he has an offense a different look every time they get to the line of scrimmage and we need those in motion, it becomes even more difficult for the player assigned to defend him.
Now that Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, will be distributing the ball, Harvin will become the most dangerous weapon in the Seahawks repertoire. Because Harvin has a nonstop motor, he is a player that can be used on all three downs, one after the other. That doesn't mean that Seattle will necessarily overuse him, not with so many other ways to attack defensive sets. Running back Marshawn Lynch will still carry a large portion of the load and the rest of the Seahawks' wide receivers and tight ends are also extremely capable pass receivers to confuse, frustrate and tire the defense. The addition of Percy Harvin will only make Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin and Zach Miller better players, more easily able to line up one-on-one with defenders and able to create separation. With so many weapons attacking the defensive secondary, it will force opponents to utilize zone defense which creates seams that Russell Wilson can exploit.
Anyone who believes that giving up a number one draft choice was too much for Percy Harvin, look at the draft and identify one player with the kind of versatility that he has. There are players that have more speed (Tavon Austin) or more height (Cordarrelle Patterson) or a bigger body (Keenan Allen), but none of them are proven at the elite level and none of them possess the versatility of Harvin. He is very fast, he's incredibly elusive, he's a nightmare to tackle and runs precise routes and has strong and sticky hands. It would take four players in this years draft class to cover the skills that Harvin has and more than anything else… He is an elite, proven NFL success! Every player in the draft is a risk of becoming a complete bust. QB Jamarcus Russell, drafted by the Oakland Raiders first overall, was considered the closest to a no risk player there was after his career at LSU and his combine and pro day performances. He played two seasons, blowing up to 340 pounds before the Oakland bailed out on him and he hasn't played professional football since. The Seattle Seahawks drafted Aaron Curry, (4th overall) considered the safest pick in the draft and most pro-ready player available. He turned out to be a bust in Seattle, though any team would have taken the same gamble. It's just a big crapshoot as to whether a college football player can make the transition to the most elite version of American football on the planet. Percy Harvin is a proven player, but there is a risk. Changing teams can sometimes kick a great player's career into overdrive, making them an even bigger star, but it can also kill a players career if they sign with a new team with a different scheme that doesn't complement their style of play, or the player is surrounded by new teammates that don't make it possible for them to succeed.. The quarterback to wide receiver combination is probably the biggest example of players that rely on each other for their success. Great quarterbacks surrounded by a poor wide receiver set simply cannot succeed throwing the ball. Just the same, a wide receiver can run like the wind, with great hands and precise routes and dropping production significantly if they have a quarterback that can't read defenses are can't throw accurate passes. Although, when you look at the trade that brought Percy Harvin to Seattle, you have to believe that his career should explode. Russell Wilson is one of the best in the game at distributing the ball and throwing accurately. He is one of the most complete students of the game and tirelessly prepares for every opponent as well as every practice. He practically lives in the film room when not on the field and is in constant communication with all the players on the team attempting to tweak and perfect execution so that the Seahawks have the best chance of winning every game that they step on the field. Percy Harvin is said to be a hard worker and even harder competitor. He demands a professional quarterback that can execute the plays exactly as they are drawn out and it just so happens that he has exactly that in Russell Wilson. A lot has been said about Harvin not getting along in Minnesota, with head coach Leslie Frazier or Minnesota starting quarterback Christian Ponder. However, even Frazier and the Vikings ownership are not happy with Christian Ponder playing quarterback for their team, so was this really a Percy Harvin problem or is it that Harvin has an expectation that his team provides a capable quarterback to run the offense? I believe that Harvin is going to be pushed hard by Russell Wilson and as hard of a worker as Harvin is, is going to have trouble keeping up with Wilson, in the classroom or in the film room, the practice field and most importantly each Sunday afternoon on the game surface. As far as Harvin's problems and with the head coach? Pete Carroll is great working with players who have had problems on or off the field. However, he's also capable of removing the player that he believes is detrimental to the team's success or harmony, no matter the personnel cost or financial loss. He eliminated players like WR TJ Houshmanzadeh, WR Deion Branch, RB Lendale White as well as LB Aaron Curry. He simply doesn't care about big names or big contracts. If you don't fit in with his scheme or philosophy, you will be eliminated and he doesn't consider the players fame, notoriety, reputation or bank account. For coach Carroll, it's all about putting together a football team that falls into the type of team he wants and the philosophy of competing on a team that has a common goal of excellence and harmony. You just don't hear about the bickering and drama on his teams that you do with the New York Jets, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. So, I just don't think Percy Harvin will have any problems like he did with the Minnesota Vikings. Not to mention, winning has a way of cleaning up a lot of bad attitude because nobody likes to lose.
In closing, I just want to reiterate the idea that Percy Harvin costing the Seahawks a first-round pick, seventh round pick in the upcoming draft and a third round pick next year, is it going to be a huge hit to the Seahawks. John Schneider the general manager, and Pete Carroll are masters at finding talent in the middle rounds of the draft and even the late rounds. They will survive losing the first round selection, and through free agency they have really solved two of the big problems they already identified to solve in the draft; defensive pass rush and wide receiver. Harvin, Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett and Tony McDaniel are going to be part of a very special teams in 2013. The only real vacancy on this football team is the right outside linebacker position and I think with 10 selections in the upcoming draft will remedy that no matter what round Schneider and Carroll have to do it with.
Go Hawks!
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