(Sea)Hawk-Dove Games in the NFL Talent Market
The NFL Season has gotten off to a great start thus far: high scoring games, rookie QB’s battling for their jobs, and our fair share of wide receiver drama. But the early season would not be complete without GM’s making trades and playing the games that accompany them.
Two weeks ago, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider scored all-pro DE Jadeveon Clowney in a trade with the Houston Texans. In the trade, Houston gave up Clowney in exchange for “DE Barkevious Mingo, DE Jacob Martin, and a third round draft pick” (Todd Vandenberg, Aug 31). At face value, it seems fair, but when considering Mingo was likely to be cut and Martin never got consistent playing time, Schneider realistically traded a 3rd round pick for an All-Pro. Vandenberg further reports that in addition to the Seahawks winning the personnel trade, they won the financial one as well. Seattle will pay Clowney $8 million of his $15 million salary this year — Houston will foot the other $7 million as a “signing bonus”. Vandenberg’s article (linked below) makes it abundantly clear that the Seahawks got the better of the Texans on this trade.
In a league as competitive and high-stakes as the NFL, how does such a lopsided deal go through? I believe this trade is an example of a Hawk-Dove game. Though, it is important to note that the game was unfair from its beginning: Clowney wanted out of Houston and requested the Seahawks as a possible trade option. Because of this dynamic, Seattle could comfortably take the Hawk position. If Houston takes their offer, Seattle wins, and if no offer is made, Seattle loses nothing. Houston, on the other hand, is forced to agree to any deal Seattle makes that is more reasonable than letting Clowney quit and paying him his guaranteed money. Houston then takes the Dove position whenever the payouts are such that they lose less by trading, and by doing so, sets Seattle up to have an amazing season.
Source: https://12thmanrising.com/2019/09/01/seahawks-john-schneider-clowney-deal/
Credit to Todd Vandenberg.