Pete Carroll, Percy Harvin and John Schneider at Tuesday's press conference.
photo by Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks
by Curtis Crabtree
KJR reporter
Twitter: @Curtis_Crabtree
RENTON - The Seahawks kicked off the start of free agency with the announcement of a major trade to bring one of the league's biggest playmakers to Seattle.
The Seahawks officially announced the trade first reported on Monday to acquire WR Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for three draft picks. Seattle is sending a first and seventh round in this year's draft to the Vikings and a third round pick in 2014 for Harvin. Both head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider said Tuesday they view Harvin as their first round pick this year.
"If you place Percy in this draft there would be some pretty strong arguments of how high he would go, and it would be pretty darn high," Schneider said. "We’re sitting at 25 and for us to be able to even move up 5 spots it would take probably a third round draft pick. Really this is kind of a slam dunk for us."
Schneider said that trade talks with the Vikings picked up late Friday and continued throughout the weekend before agreeing to the deal on Monday. Harvin underwent a physical Tuesday morning in Seattle to complete the deal and it was announced once the new league year began at 1 p.m.
Harvin said reports of his issues with the Vikings organization were greatly exaggerated and he is still on good terms with head coach Leslie Frazier and general manager Rick Spielman.
"Me and Coach Frazier, me and Rick Spielman, we all have great relationships, they all text me and tell me they love me and I tell them I love them back. So it was good," Harvin said.
Carroll had recruited Harvin out of high school and finally gets the chance to coach him seven years later. Harvin is excited for his opportunity to join the Seahawks and get a fresh start.
"I really don’t have words to describe how I feel. I was talking to Coach Carroll and a lot of the guys and I told them I haven’t slept in three days just anticipating this opportunity," Harvin said.
"I’m very blessed to know that this doesn’t come around often to play with an up and coming quarterback like Russell, who guys are comparing him preparation wise to Brett Favre. When I hear that, and hear people comparing him to Brett Favre, I listen. So seeing this opportunity, I’m very, very, very grateful."
The Seahawks also made the decision to release RB/KR Leon Washington on Tuesday. With Harvin's ability to return kicks - he's had at least one kick return touchdown in each of his first four seasons in the NFL - Washington became expendable for Seattle.
