How the Seahawks' Strategic Trade for Sam Howell Led to the Acquisition of Rylie Mills
A Year of Setbacks and a Super Bowl Turnaround
It was a challenging journey for Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Rylie Mills. Just over a year ago, Mills' promising college career was abruptly halted by a torn ACL during Notre Dame's thrilling win over Indiana in the College Football Playoff. Despite Notre Dame's remarkable run to the National Championship Game, Mills' season ended prematurely, leaving him on the sidelines.
Fast forward to three weeks ago, and Mills' NFL journey took an unexpected turn. His rookie season in Seattle began late but culminated in a historic moment - recording his first career sack in the Super Bowl. While his playing time was limited to just five snaps in the Seahawks' victory over the New England Patriots, those brief moments had a significant impact, as two of those plays resulted in sacks.
During the Super Bowl media availability week, Field Gulls caught up with Mills and inquired about his anticipation for a full offseason under the guidance of Mike Macdonald's defense. Mills expressed his excitement, highlighting the challenges of transitioning after a season-ending surgery.
"That'll be great," Mills said. "I'm really excited. I feel like that was the toughest part was just coming in after having a whole offseason surgery and all that stuff. It's been really cool to feel like myself again and feel fully back and have that time to develop and get better."
A Trade That Changed Everything
The Seahawks' acquisition of Mills was a result of a strategic trade involving Sam Howell, the backup quarterback. The Seahawks, set to pick at No. 172, made a bold move to climb 30 spots in Round 5. In exchange, the Minnesota Vikings received Sam Howell and Seattle's fifth-round pick.
This trade set the stage for the Seahawks to secure Mills, while Howell was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles before the regular season began. The Vikings, in turn, traded Seattle's pick to the Los Angeles Rams, who selected linebacker Chris 'Pooh' Paul Jr. Paul Jr. was surprisingly waived and later added to the Seahawks' practice squad.
The Vikings' gain became the Seahawks' gain, as they acquired Mills and two additional picks in the sixth round - linebacker Kobe King and tight end Gavin Bartholomew. King was released midseason, while Bartholomew remains with the Vikings but has yet to take the field due to injury.
The Value of Comp Picks
The Seahawks' trade for Mills was made possible by a compensatory pick, which they acquired after a five-year drought. These picks are not solely for direct player selection but provide increased capital to navigate the NFL Draft board.
Seattle's fourth-round compensatory pick was traded to the New England Patriots, who then traded it to the Cleveland Browns for picks 166 and 192. Schneider utilized pick 192 to select guard Bryce Cabeldue, while Tory Horton was chosen at 166. Fullback Robbie Ouzts was the only 'no-trade' pick via compensatory selection.
In a roundabout way, the Seahawks' first comp picks in five years, along with Sam Howell, led to the acquisition of Rylie Mills, Tory Horton, Robbie Ouzts, and Bryce Cabeldue. Additionally, Damien Martinez was drafted with an extra pick from the Patriots, though he did not make the active roster.
Seattle's comp pick prospects for 2026 are uncertain, but a conservative approach to free agent signings could potentially bring them back into the comp pick pool for 2027. The Seahawks' strategic trade for Sam Howell and their compensatory picks demonstrate a thoughtful approach to team building, blending veteran leadership with promising young talent.
