Veteran Seahawks center and Big Island native Max Unger is on the move to the Big Easy.
Seattle and New Orleans agreed to a trade early Tuesday that sent star tight end Jimmy Graham to the Pacific Northwest in exchange for Unger, a 2004 Hawaii Preparatory Academy graduate. The trade will also include the Seahawks sending their first-round pick this year to the Saints. Seattle will receive a fourth-rounder from New Orleans.
Unger, a second-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2009 out of the University of Oregon, started all 67 games he appeared in for the Seahawks. He was one of just three players on the roster from the squad coach Pete Carroll took over in 2010. Defensive lineman Brandon Mebane and punter Jon Ryan are now the last two standing.
Unger has been consistently ranked among the top centers in the league — garnering Pro Bowl selections in 2012 and 2013 — but missed 10 games last season with leg and foot injuries. With Unger sidelined, the Seahawks reeled off an 8-2 record by using a combination of Patrick Lewis, Lemuel Jeanpierre and Stephen Schilling at center. That success led the Seahawks to believe they could win without Unger, making him a valuable asset in the blockbuster deal.
“We would like to thank Max for his leadership and the role he has played in helping establish our current championship culture,” Seahawks Executive VP/General Manager John Schneider said in a release issued by the team. “He is a former captain and has been a respected and valued leader for our consecutive Super Bowl teams. We wish him nothing but the best as he continues his career. We are thrilled to have an opportunity to acquire a player of Jimmy Graham’s caliber, and will remain relentless in our pursuit of sustaining that championship culture.”
Seattle players took to Twitter to respond to the trade of Unger, among them, wide receiver Doug Baldwin.
“This one is a hard pill to swallow,” Baldwin said. “A great player, a great teammate and a great man. Thank you (Max Unger) for everything!”
The 6-foot-7, 265-pound Graham gives the Seahawks a much-needed red zone threat and mismatch in the passing game — two things Seattle has lacked since Russell Wilson took over under center.
Graham has averaged 89 receptions, 1,099 receiving yards and 11.5 touchdown catches in his four seasons with the Saints. Last season, the Seahawks’ four tight ends combined for 48 receptions, 757 yards and six TD catches.
And here is a stat for Seattle fans still reeling over the infamous call at the 1-yard line in last month’s Super Bowl: Graham has been thrown to nine times on plays that started at the opposing team’s 1-yard line. Eight of those throws were caught by Graham for touchdowns.