Pats Trade Seymour

In a move that comes as a shock, the Patriots traded Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders this morning for a 2011 first-round pick.

The 29-year-old Seymour, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, was a key member of the great success enjoyed by the Patriots over the past decade. After being drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2001 draft out of Georgia, Seymour immediately helped turn the Patriots into a winner. The year before he was drafted, the team went 5-11. In his rookie year, the team went 11-5 and won Super Bowl XXXVI. He also helped the team win back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 2003 and 2004.

This move is the latest in a series of maneuvers that have transformed the makeup of the Patriots defense. Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi have retired and Mike Vrable was traded to Kansas City.

This is a risky trade by Bill Belichick. Seymour is coming off a season in which he recorded eight sacks, which tied a career high. The Patriots defense already seemed to have holes to fill without the trade of a former All-Pro lineman. With a high-powered offense led by Tom Brady and Randy Moss that is expected to be one of the best in the NFL, it would be a shame if the success of the team was hampered by a suspect defense.

Looking at this from Belichick's perspective, he saw Seymour as a luxury. The team already has proven veterans Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, and Jarvis Green on the line with promising rookies Ron Brace and Myron Pryor adding depth. The Patriots have short-term and long-term needs at other places and the pick from the Raiders and the salary flexibility created through the loss of Seymour allow the Patriots the opportunity to fill their holes.

One name that has been floated in the past is that of Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers. The Patriots need to improve in getting after the passer and Peppers is one of the best in the NFL at getting at the quarterback. If the Patriots were to add a player of the caliber of Peppers, they would potentially improve their defense over what Seymour brings to the table. However, with the regular season starting this week, it is very unlikely that the Panthers would unload Peppers.

Whatever the Patriots do to replace Richard Seymour, his contributions to the great success of the Patriots over eight seasons will never be forgotten.