The Seahawks made a big move ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, acquiring left tackle Duane Brown and a 2018 fifth-round pick from the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2018 third-round pick and a second-rounder in 2019.
The move happened just two days after Brown started at left tackle against the Seahawks in Houston's 41-38 loss at CenturyLink Field. It was Brown's first game of the season, as the 10-year veteran held out for Houston's first six games looking for a new contract.
"He's a heck of player, been a heck of a player for a long time," Seahawks general manager John Schneider said. "Big, powerful man. He has played several positions, currently playing left tackle for Houston. We're just very excited about it. He has been a leader for them, he has been the captain of their offense for a number of years, he has been coached by a lot of really good coaches—most recently (Texans offensive line coach) Mike Devlin—so we're just really excited to get him… We're just really excited to add the player, his leadership and the guy."
Brown, 32, had spent his entire career up to this point with the Texans after being selected in the first round of the 2008 draft. He has earned Pro-Bowl honors three times in his career (2012-2014), and was named first-team All-Pro in 2012 and second-team All-Pro in 2011.
Schneider said he has been involved in talks with Texans general manager Rick Smith about a potential trade since Seahawks left tackle George Fant went down with a season-ending injury during the preseason.
"We've been talking to them on and off since right after George was injured, just trying to get a lay of the land," Schneider said. "Rick Smith their general manager and myself have a really good relationship, and we just kept talking and texting, and it ended up coming to fruition."
Asked what stands out about Brown's play, Schneider said, "Power, physicality. He's got great hands, really good instincts. He's just a mountain of a man."
And it's not just Brown's on-field talent that will help the Seahawks. He also brings leadership and experience to a line that is one of the youngest in the league, especially right now with left guard Luke Joeckel sidelined by a knee injury.
"That's the thing, he's an alpha male, he's a leader, he has been through a lot of the NFL battles," Schneider said. "These guys know who he is, he's one of those guys. It's kind of like what you saw with Dwight Freeney coming here last week where those guys were kind of like, 'Holy (cow), that's Dwight Freeney!' You know? Same thing with this guy, they all know who Duane Brown is and they know he looks like a big door and is a really good football player."
Asked Monday if the Seahawks could be active before the deadline, head coach Pete Carroll said, "You're either competing or you're not. You know John, he's out there trying to figure out what's going on. But you never know."
Now we do know, and Schneider competing to improve his team's roster helped the Seahawks add a proven talent to their line. This is the second trade the Seahawks have made to acquire a Pro-Bowl caliber player in the past two months, having added defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson in a trade with the New York Jets.
Take a look back at some of the best photos of Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown, the newest member of the Seattle Seahawks following the team's trade with the Houston Texans.
Houston Texans offensive lineman Duane Brown (76) blocks against Damontr'e Moore (98) during a NFL week 3 regular season football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won the game 30-17. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) battles offensive tackle Duane Brown (76) at the line of scrimmage during a NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Monday, August 31, 2009 in Houston. The Vikings won the game 17-10. (AP Photo/Paul Jasienski)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown (76) blocks Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel (94) during the NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, November 1, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. The Texans won the game 31-10. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Duane Brown (76) blocks against Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo (98) in front of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 in Houston. Houston defeated the Redskins 17-6. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Tyson Alualu, left, goes up against Houston Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown (76) during the second half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010. Jacksonville won 31-24.(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Houston Texans left tackle Duane Brown (76) blocks during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Reliant Stadium on Sunday October 9, 2011 in Houston, Texas. Oakland won 25-20. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown (76) of Team Sanders blocks against New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) of Team Rice during an NFL Pro Bowl football game at Aloha Stadium on Sunday January 26, 2014 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Team Rice won 22-21. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown (76) sets to block against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Minneapolis. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 23, 2014: NFL Pro Bowl from the Houston Texans, J.J. Watt 99, Duane Brown 76
Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown (76) blocks New England Patriots middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) during to an NFL AFC divisional playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 34-16. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins (97) tries to work his way around a block by Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown (76) as he chases the action during the 2015 week 10 regular season NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015 in Cincinnati. The Texans won the game 10-6. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown (76) blocks Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Arthur Moats during the first half of the NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 20, 2014 in Pittsburgh. The Steelers won 30-23. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown (76) blocks Detroit Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (93) during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown (76) blocks against Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (52) and outside linebacker Trent Cole (58) during an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 in Houston, Texas. Indianapolis won 27-20. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) goes up against Houston Texans tackle Duane Brown (76) during an NFL football game on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 in Mexico City. Oakland won 27-20. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown (76) looks to block during a week 17 NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. The Titans beat the Texans 24-17. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jonathan Newsome (91) pass rushes during an NFL game as Houston Texans offensive lineman Duane Brown (76) blocks on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, in Houston, Texas. The Colts won the game, 27-20. (Greg Trott via AP)
Team Carter's Duane Brown #76 in action, blocking Team Irvin's Cameron Wake #91 during the NFL Pro Bowl Game on Sunday, January 25, 2015 in Glendale, AZ. Team Irvin won the game (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) works to get around Houston Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown (76) during the NFL week 14 football game on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Texans 27-6. ( Jim Mahoney via AP)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Duane Brown (76) looks to block during the NFL AFC Divisional football game against the New England Patriots on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Texans 34-16. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Duane Brown (76) blocks Colts Curt Maggitt (92) in front of quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) during a Week 14 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 in Indianapolis. The Texans beat the Colts 22-17. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans' Duane Brown arrives to the practice fields for the NFL football team's workouts Monday, May 20, 2013, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown (76) in action December 10,2012 against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.New England defeated Houston 42-14. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Duane Brown (76) drops back to block Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end John Chick (97) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Jacksonville, Fla. Houston beat Jacksonville 20-13. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
