Huh? Jets Get Percy Harvin (And His Massive Contract) From Seahawks

In an out of nowhere, jaw dropping move, the Jets, not 24 hours removed from their sixth consecutive loss, acquired wide receiver/kick returner Percy Harvin from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2015 conditional draft choice. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer had the news first.

It’s the second time Harvin has been traded in less than 20 months, as Seattle sent a first and a seventh round draft pick to the Minnesota Vikings for him in March 2013, before signing him to a six-year, $67 million deal with $25.5 million guaranteed. Harvin, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, played in just one regular season game for the Seahawks last year, before famously running back a kick 87 yards for a touchdown in their 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. In five games this year, he has 22 catches for 133 yards and no scores.

The Jets are over $20 million below the NFL salary cap so with Harvin’s cap number at $12.9 million for next season, they can clearly afford him if they choose to keep him beyond the end of this year. As for the Seahawks, who won the Super Bowl last year while getting next to nothing out of him, they clearly think they can do the same this year. Harvin leaves Seattle having made quite a bit of coin given his limited time on the field.

RT @SportsTaxMan: During Seahawks reg-season career Percy Harvin had 23 catches, made $18.3M (@spotrac) — that’s $795,652 per reception.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 17, 2014

At 1-6 and going nowhere, the Jets, bereft of weapons on offense, have nothing to lose in making a deal for an expensive, wildly talented skill player with a history of injuries as well as some other rumored issues. Since Harvin’s guaranteed money is paid up after this season, the Jets can move on from him for nothing following the end of the year if he doesn’t fit their future plans.