Random thoughts on reading this thread...
Seattle was stupid. They just spent a fortune on Jackson and Burleson, plus they had Ingram and Haskett. WR wasn't a dire need. Moreover, any #1, even a late rounder is likely to turn out to be a key player. Moreover, most teams are one injury away from being mediocre. Had the situations been reversed, would BB trade a #1 for Branch? What makes this a double whammy for Seattle, is that they overpaid for Branch. Is Branch worthy of a 6yr/$39mil contract? No. This becomes a triple whammy for Seattle when Hasslebeck went down. With their schedule, Seattle's #1 now looks like a top 20. The moral to the story: never trade a #1 unless it's for an impact defensive player in his prime. Even then, think twice.
No one mentioned the Culpepper deal. Duante was the most overrated QB this summer and the Vikings would have cut him at some point before this season. Yet, Saban foolishly spent a #2 for him, rather than get Drew Brees, who's the big reason for the Saints turnaround. Notice how Minny has played better with Brad Johnson at QB over the last 16 games since Duante injured his knee. It's no coincidence.
The 1990 draft day deal, relinquishing the right to choose between Cortez Kennedy and Junior Seau with the # 3 pick to Seattle for the 8th and 10th picks and blowing both of them on Chris Singleton (bust) and Ray Agnew (solid but mediocre). Maybe the Branch deal was karma.
The gory nightmare known as the 1992 draft when the Pats realized they traded too far down before trading up again (and losing picks in the process) and winding up with super bust, Eugene Chung.
The 1979 deal of Pro Bowl tackle, Leon Gray to AFC rival Houston for 2nd and 6th round picks. The #2 turned out to be RB Vegas Ferguson, who was decent for only a few games. The Oilers would make it to the playoffs in 1979 and 1980 while the Pats watched them on TV.
Notice that in almost every bad trade, the team with the short end of the deal is the one who traded the pick(s) for veterans? Seattle deserves everything they get. Meanwhile, the Pats are sitting on top of the AFC East with a 5-1 record and 2 1st rounders in April.