If nothing else, the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl triumph should close the book on the Russell Wilson trade. The first three seasons of post-Russ results indicated that while Seattle got a nice haul out of the blockbuster deal, they were still treading water as a non-contender. After the 2025 offseason masterclass, the Wilson trade was indeed instrumental in Seattle’s newest championship window. Devon Witherspoon or Derick Hall winning Super Bowl MVP would’ve been the perfect encapsulation.
But we’re not here to talk about the Wilson trade, of which Witherspoon and Derick Hall made outsized impacts . There were some other deals Schneider made with the Broncos that had a season-long impact on Seattle’s success, as well as an outsized success in the Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.
A.J. Barner
It is distinctly possible that Barner could end his rookie contract as the Seahawks’ all-time leading receiver at the tight end position. He wasn’t even the top tight end at Michigan—Colston Loveland looks like he is the real deal with the Chicago Bears—but he’s shown himself to be a well-rounded traditional tight end. Barner may not have the gaudy stats like Trey McBride or prime Travis Kelce or George Kittle, but he blocks well, has excellent hands, and he’s shown himself to be the warmest of security blankets for Sam Darnold.
Advertisement
In the Super Bowl, Barner had four catches for 54 yards and Seattle’s only offensive touchdown. It was a fitting performance after quietly finishing second on the team in receptions and touchdowns and third in receiving yards.
How he was acquired: The Seahawks were slated to pick at No. 102 overall early in Round 4 of the 2024 draft. John Schneider traded down to No. 121, gaining another pick in the process. Denver took Oregon receiver Troy Frankling, while the Seahawks selected Barner at No. 121.
Michael Dickson
Michael Dickson was pressed into action a little more than hoped for, but the Aussie was his usual phenomenal self. Facing a dangerous returner in Marcus Jones, he downed the Patriots inside the 10 three times out of seven punts, and Jones’ two returns went a grand total of four yards. He also saved a Jason Myers field goal attempt by corralling a low snap from long snapper Chris Stoll in time to hold and spin the laces out for Myers to boot his kick through the uprights.
Advertisement
This was one of those games where field position mattered quite a bit, and Dickson flipped the field repeatedly against a Patriots offense that could do next to nothing for the entire Super Bowl.
Dickson was second-team All-Pro in 2025 and tied for his career low in touchbacks with three.
How he was acquired: Trading up for a PUNTER?! This is what the Seahawks did in 2018 after giving up picks 156 and 226 to the Broncos to select Dickson at 149. Dickson remains the only All-Pro at any position selected in the fifth round from that draft class.
Denver drafted Troy Fumagalli (out of the league in two years) and running back David Williams (never played for Denver) with its picks from Seattle.
Another way to look at this is Witherspoon, Hall, Dickson, and Barner were among the top performing Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 and all of them were directly acquired from traded Denver draft picks.
Advertisement
Regardless of who’s in the front office for the Broncos, they might as well hang up the phone when Schneider comes calling. The solace for Denver is that they quickly got out of the Wilson deal and have rebuilt the roster to the point of being contenders again… but they still have to wait to be Super Bowl champions again.
