Buffalo Bills–New England Patriots Trade History

Buffalo Bills received Wray Carlton in the exchange with Boston/New England Patriots. Wray Carlton became Buffalo's leading rusher in the franchise's inaugural season and topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage. He later remained part of the Bills' championship-era teams, creating both immediate production and lasting franchise value. In hindsight, that direct outcome supports a A- grade for Buffalo Bills. The judgment focuses on what this transaction itself produced rather than unrelated later moves.

Buffalo sent Ed Buckingham to Boston in August 1961 for a future draft asset whose exact downstream identity remains uncertain. Pro Football Archives dates the move to August 3, while draft reconstruction uses August 4 and tentatively links the return to the 1962 No. 86 selection associated with Tom Pennington. Buckingham was released by Boston less than two weeks later, so the Patriots received very little lasting player value.

Buffalo acquired Jerry DeLucca from Boston on September 4, 1962 for future draft compensation whose exact selection remains unresolved. DeLucca immediately appeared in all 14 Bills games in 1962 and returned for two more in 1963. That direct roster contribution gives Buffalo the modest edge, while the unidentified Patriots return keeps the Bills' grade below the top range.

Buffalo purchased linebacker Harry Jacobs from the Boston Patriots in 1963, with historical evidence placing the sale on July 19 rather than January 1. Jacobs then played seven seasons for the Bills and contributed to their 1964 and 1965 AFL championship teams. That long-term return makes Buffalo the decisive winner, graded A- to D+.

Buffalo acquired Boston's 1965 AFL 10th-round choice for defensive end Mack Yoho and used No. 79 on Chuck Mercein. Mercein instead entered the NFL with the New York Giants and never played for Buffalo, while Yoho's major-league playing record ends with the Bills in 1963 and shows no Patriots regular-season appearance. Neither acquiring club realized field production, making the exchange even rather than a Buffalo win.

Buffalo acquired running back Bob Cappadona, with the duplicate spelling removed so the return correctly contains one player. Cappadona started seven games for the Bills and produced 364 scrimmage yards with three touchdowns, giving Buffalo tangible short-term value from a ninth-round price. That production is enough to support a B- grade and makes Buffalo the stronger side of the 1968 exchange.

Buffalo Bills received 1970 sixth round pick (#135-Grant Guthrie) in the exchange with New England Patriots. The sixth-round choice became No. 135 Grant Guthrie, who gave Buffalo a shorter and less efficient kicking stint than the multi-season value Janik supplied in New England. Against New England Patriots' return of Tom Janik, that result supports a C grade. The transaction is judged as New England Patriots Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.

Buffalo Bills received 1971 eighth round pick (#183-Louis Ross), while New England Patriots received Ray Jacobs. Buffalo sent Ray Jacobs to Boston and received the 1971 eighth-round choice used at No. 183 on Louis Ross. Jacobs' Patriots stay was brief and later interrupted by a serious back injury, while Ross at least reached NFL regular-season action after Buffalo drafted him. Buffalo Bills earns a C+ grade, and the overall verdict is Buffalo Bills Win.

Buffalo acquired Jim Cheyunski, Halvor Hagen and Mike Montler. Cheyunski became an immediate starting linebacker and team leader, while Hagen and Montler added further veteran service. Montler in particular had a long NFL career as an offensive lineman. The combined usefulness of three incoming veterans gives Buffalo the clearly stronger direct return from this six-player exchange.

Buffalo Bills: Buffalo received Ron Berger, but he did not make the Bills regular-season roster and therefore produced no meaningful direct return. The D grade reflects only value tied directly to this transaction, including production or draft value the club itself controlled. Against New England Patriots, that supported return leads to the final verdict of New England Patriots Win.

Buffalo and New England exchanged late-round draft capital during the 1990 draft. The Bills received seventh-round selections No. 166 and No. 170, used on Brent Griffith and Brent Collins. New England received twelfth-rounder No. 322, Blaine Rose, plus a 1991 fourth-round pick that became No. 110. Neither side generated a major direct player payoff from the assets acquired.

Buffalo acquired Drew Bledsoe from New England for its 2003 first-round pick, giving the Bills an established quarterback after Tom Brady had displaced him. Bledsoe immediately threw for 4,359 yards and reached the Pro Bowl, but Buffalo never made the playoffs during his three seasons. New England later used the acquired No. 14 pick as the key asset in moving up for defensive lineman Ty Warren.

Buffalo Bills traded center Russell Bodine to New England for the 2020 sixth-round pick that became No. 207, Isaiah Hodgins. The Patriots released Bodine only days later and he never played a regular-season snap for them. Hodgins had a limited Buffalo role but still gave the Bills roster value from an asset they acquired for a player New England immediately discarded, earning Buffalo a B-.

Buffalo moved down three spots from No. 28 to No. 31 in the 2026 first round and added pick 125, while New England climbed to No. 28 for Utah tackle Caleb Lomu. The Bills later moved No. 31 again and kept No. 125, using it on UConn receiver Skyler Bell. With both rookies still before their first regular season, the exchange remains appropriately even.