Seattle’s High-Stakes Gamble: Reshaping the Season with the Najee Harris Trade
Written by Dale Walters and Adam Ireland
In a surprising Week 3 trade, the Seattle Leathernecks took a calculated gamble to address their running back situation, and it’s a move that could reshape their season. The trade saw Seattle part ways with veteran running back Jerick McKinnon, sending him north to the Anchorage Commandos in exchange for the promising but somewhat underperforming third-year back Najee Harris.
Seattle’s motivation behind this trade was clear: they needed depth and potential in their running back corps. The Leathernecks felt that their current roster lacked the explosiveness and versatility they desired in their ground game. General Manager George Michaels wasted no time in making the move happen.
This trade takes on added intrigue due to the storied one-sided rivalry between Seattle and Anchorage. Commandos owner Peter Stevens had previously voiced caution about dealing with Seattle, but circumstances had shifted. Despite Harris’s name recognition from his college days at Alabama, his Week 2 performance left much to be desired and played a role in Anchorage’s loss to California. Additionally, the Commandos unexpectedly found themselves with a hidden gem in Jerome Ford following Nick Chubb’s unfortunate injury, making Harris more of a luxury than a necessity.
On paper, the trade appears balanced, with both McKinnon and Harris averaging around 6 points per game. However, what sweetened the deal for Anchorage was Seattle’s offer of an 8th round pick as part of the trade package.
Seattle may assert that Najee Harris was their top target all along, but it’s worth noting that they initially explored other avenues, including a potential deal with the California Rebels for one of their running backs, which ultimately didn’t pan out.
In the end, this trade represents a calculated risk for the Leathernecks. It’s a move made with an eye on the future and the hope that Najee Harris can realize his potential and become a standout performer for Seattle. If Harris can evolve into a Jonathan Taylor 2.0, this trade might just propel the Leathernecks towards contention in the race to the Yuma Bowl. Only time will tell if this gamble pays off for Seattle, but it’s a bold move that could shape their season in unexpected ways.
