Bam.

With one move, Seattle has become the team to beat in the NFC. Not just the NFC West. The entire conference. Percy Harvin makes the Seahawks that good, that relevant and that dangerous.

Percy Harvin should find the situation in Seattle to his liking. AP Photo/Andy King

A couple of hours after news broke Monday that Seattle was trading a first-round pick, among others, to Minnesota for the 24-year-old Harvin, San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke countered by trading a sixth-round pick to Baltimore for veteran receiver Anquan Boldin.

The 32-year-old Boldin makes San Francisco better, but he doesn't give the 49ers the speed they need. And Harvin is younger, faster and more versatile.

Seattle general manager John Schneider sent a message to the conference and the entire league that the Seahawks are going to be major players in 2013, no matter what else transpires once free agency starts Tuesday afternoon. They have their quarterback, a creative offense, a workhorse running back and now one of the most difficult players in the league to defend. All the Seahawks really need on defense is a skilled pass-rusher who can help close out games. They've got the league's best secondary and were the No. 1 defense in points allowed last season. They are very close.

With all due respect to the Atlanta Falcons and the Niners, no NFC team will be a bigger matchup nightmare than Seattle with Harvin and Russell Wilson. The read option was already a pain in the neck to defend, and Harvin will add another dimension because defenses will have to account for his whereabouts every snap. Is he in the slot? Is he split wide? Is he in the backfield?