When John Schneider was brought on to be the Seattle Seahawks' general manager in January of 2010, he was tasked with taking over a team that was in the process of rebuilding. Former USC head coach Pete Carroll made the decision to bring on a guy that was schooled by current Green Bay Packers' general manager Ted Thompson.
Schneider set forth to rebuild an organization that was in the process of transitioning from over-the-hill veteran players and a worn-out philosophy of one Mike Holmgren.
The task was going to be difficult, but something this talented front office executive would prove to be up for.
In Schneider's first draft in the Pacific Northwest a few months after he was hired, he brought in one of the better draft classes in the history of the franchise. Russell Okung would end up becoming a franchise book end ( when healthy), Earl Thomas is currently one of the top safeties in the NFL and running mate Kam Chancellor has improved each season in the league and is currently an elite player. This doesn't even take into account the addition of Golden Tate in the second round.
While Seattle seems to have missed a bit with its selection of James Carpenter in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, Schneider more than made up for it by acquiring K.J. Wright and Richard Sherman in the mid rounds. Wright is one of the better young middle linebackers in the league, While Sherman is right up there with Darrelle Revis as the best cover guy in the NFL.
Not to be outdone, Seattle went out there and had the best draft class of any team this past April. Without even taking into account Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson, who had one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the league for a quarterback, Schneider hit on value and need throughout the remainder of the draft. Bobby Wagner was my pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, while Robert Turbin appears to be the heir apparent to Marshawn Lynch, who Seattle acquired from the Buffalo Bills prior to the start of the 2010 season for two mid-round picks. In addition, first-round pick Bruce Irvin had a better than expected performance as a rookie in 2012
Yes, it has been move after move of pure gold for Schneider since coming to Seattle.
Still, Monday's move to acquire Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round pick and seventh-round pick in 2012 and a third-round pick in 2013 will come to define Schneider's tenure with the Seahawks. If the trade does not pay off, fans will forget about all the good that this talented personnel man has done in the past few seasons. You can't give up two important picks to acquire an enigmatic figure without taking a bit of a risk; a risk that Seattle likely had to take this offseason.
Harvin, who has never recorded as much as a 1,000-yard season, is one of the most talented young receivers in the league. He also brings with him a tremendous amount of baggage and what promises to be a hefty contract moving forward. Reports indicate that Seattle could come to an agreement with Harvin on a contract with an annual figure "north of $12 million." This would put him right up there with some of the best receivers in the game; Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson included.
The previous three wide receivers traded for first-round picks really haven't panned out for their new teams. This list is made up of: Peerless Price, Deion Branch and Roy Williams. If Harvin turns out being closer to them in terms of production than Fitzgerald or Johnson; Schneider will be run out of town as quickly as a 49er' fan wearing a Jim Harbaugh shirt at the U District Fair in May.
These are moves that teams looking to contend for a Super Bowl have to make. They are also moves that come with a tremendous amount of questions and risk. This is only magnified by the fact that Seattle's division rival down south spent a lowly sixth-round pick on Anquan Boldin the same day.
Good for Mr. Schneider for having the brass balls to make such a move.
It remains to be seen if it will end up working out in the long run.