The Seahawks have made a bold, aggressive move to trade for Vikings receiver Percy Harvin, the 2009 NFL offensive rookie of the year.
And while the deal hinges on both Harvin passing a physical and the Seahawks and Harvin working out a contract, a source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that the terms of a new contract are in place.
Harvin currently is traveling to Seattle. On Tuesday morning, he’ll take a physical. If he passes the physical (and it will be regarded as a shock if he doesn’t), the trade will be called in to the NFL after the new league year begins at 4:00 p.m. ET, and the contract will be signed.
Despite a report that Harvin wants to be paid in the range of Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, both of those players are in the range of $16 million. Per the source, Harvin’s deal won’t be close.
In reality, Harvin’s deal will be more in line with the current one-up high-jump that began last year with Bucs receiver Vincent Jackson with five years, $55.5 million, and which was extended by Chiefs wideout Dwayne Bowe and his five-year, $56 million deal.
Key factors to consider when assessing Harvin’s deal include the fact that he was still under contract for one year at $2.775 million; Jackson and Bowe were both starting from scratch. While the total money could push Harvin past the $12 million annual threshold, the new-money analysis would yield a lower average. A
Also, Harvin has been a major pain in the butt for the Vikings, pretty much since he got there. The Vikings were ready to move on for a reason, and the Seahawks are assuming the risk that Harvin will bring with his immense talent a penchant for causing problems. Getting Harvin into the second tier of receiver contracts given his history would be an accomplishment.
If Harvin becomes a headache, the Seahawks can’t claim ignorance. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell spent two years with Harvin in Minnesota. Bevell has seen the highs and the lows, and everything in between.
But, in reality, Bevell needs Harvin to be on his best behavior for only one year. After making it to the interview list for multiple teams after the 2012 season, another potent performance by Seattle could launch Bevell into a head-coaching job of his own.
Which would put him miles and miles away from Seattle before Percy starts causing problems in the Pacific Northwest.
