Draft picks get traded all the time before they’re actually used to select a player. However, it’s pretty rare for a player who was drafted to be traded before his rookie year begins.
But that’s exactly what happened to linebacker Michael Barrett. The Carolina Panthers dealt Barrett, the No. 240 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, to the Seattle Seahawks. Carolina swapped Barrett, who played collegiately at Michigan, for veteran CB Michael Jackson.
The Panthers had a stark need for cornerback help, while Barrett was uncertain to make the initial 53-man roster. In Seattle, Barrett has a clearer path to making a dent on the field as a 24-year-old rookie.