Grading The Christine Michael And Terrance West Trades

August 14, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael (33) runs the ball against the Denver Broncos during the first half in a preseason NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Two very intriguing trades were made during the final roster cuts and waiver wire process. Both of them involved young running backs who boast talent but failed to crack the starting lineups on their respective teams.

How does each deal grade out for the teams and players involved?

Tennessee Titans receive West for conditional 7th round pick

Don’t forget that Terrance West was a 3rd round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns and only played one season for his former team. He’s 24-years old and healthy by all accounts. As a rookie he posted 673 yards rushing, 64 receiving and scored five touchdowns as part of the Browns committee approach. He finished averaging 3.9 yards per carry.

In terms of pure draft value, the Titans got a 3rd round pick in just his second season for a 7th rounder. If West plays well for them it would become one of the bigger steals in recent memory. The question is are the rumors of his shoddy work ethic true? Was it just a bad scheme or coaching fit? That is what Tennessee will find out.

Grade: B

Dallas Cowboys receive Michael for conditional 7th round pick

Living in the shadow of Marshawn Lynch hasn’t been easy for Christine Michael, who has only carried the ball 52 times since his rookie year in 2013. Still, he averaged 4.9 yards per carry during that span and has a fresh body with minimal wear and tear at age 24. He’ll be running behind one of the best offensive lines in the league with Tony Romo and Dez Bryant keeping extra defenders out of the box too.

The problem is the limited sampling of what he has done. Michael has talent including a good degree of speed and bulk but has never scored an NFL touchdown in regular or preseason. Does he have the strength, drive and toughness to handle short yardage situations like DeMarco Murray did? Can his body hold up to starter-level touches?

There is no way to know until he sees regular carries. To do that he must show he’s better than Darren McFadden or Joseph Randle first.

Grade: B+

Next: NFL Power Rankings: Elites Remain Perched At The Top

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