Buffalo Bills–San Francisco 49ers Trade History

On 1973-09-04, Buffalo Bills received (Ralph) Marty Huff, while San Francisco 49ers received draft pick (selection not identified). The hindsight verdict is San Francisco 49ers Win, with Buffalo Bills graded C+ and San Francisco 49ers graded B-. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while keeping unverified downstream pick identities or conditional outcomes out of the final judgment.

Buffalo acquired defensive tackle Earl Edwards from San Francisco for running back Randy Jackson and a 1975 third-round pick that became tackle Jeff Hart at No. 71. Edwards immediately became a productive Bills starter and recorded 18 sacks across his first two Buffalo seasons under modern stat reconstruction. San Francisco received a future third-rounder, but the immediate player return was far less valuable.

Buffalo Bills received 1975 seventh round pick (#166-Gil Chapman) in the exchange with San Francisco 49ers. The seventh-round choice became Gil Chapman, who did not produce comparable Bills regular-season value. Against the other side's return of Bob Penchion, that outcome supports a D+ grade. The transaction is ultimately judged as San Francisco 49ers Win, with the grade reflecting realized football value rather than the name or nominal value of the asset on the trade date.

Buffalo Bills received 1977 fifth round pick (#127-Neil O'Donoghue) in the exchange with San Francisco 49ers. Buffalo received the fifth-round choice that became Neil O'Donoghue, but that return did not match the starting and peak value Washington produced in San Francisco. The supported hindsight grade is C. That mark reflects realized value tied directly to this transaction, with the overall result recorded as San Francisco 49ers Win.

On 1975-09-09, Buffalo Bills received Frank Oliver, while San Francisco 49ers received draft pick (selection not identified). The hindsight verdict is San Francisco 49ers Win, with Buffalo Bills graded C+ and San Francisco 49ers graded B-. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while keeping unverified downstream pick identities or conditional outcomes out of the final judgment.

Buffalo traded O.J. Simpson to San Francisco for five draft choices spread across three drafts. The package included the 1979 No. 1 overall pick and the 1980 second-round selection used on Joe Cribbs. Not every pick became a Bills star, but the volume, premium position and later productive players gave Buffalo far more long-term value than Simpson provided the 49ers.

Buffalo traded veteran cornerback Mario Clark to San Francisco on July 16, 1984 for a 1985 fourth-round pick, No. 112 overall. The Bills used the selection on Dale Hellestrae, who had only a small early role in Buffalo before later building a long career elsewhere. Clark contributed immediately to San Francisco’s championship season, giving the 49ers the better direct return.

Buffalo moved up to No. 20 in the 1986 draft and selected tackle Will Wolford, also receiving a 1987 tenth-rounder. San Francisco received picks No. 29 and No. 56, using the latter on fullback Tom Rathman. Wolford became a Pro Bowl-caliber blind-side tackle for Buffalo, while Rathman became an important piece of championship offenses, making the exchange valuable for both clubs.

San Francisco acquired running back Joe Cribbs from Buffalo on August 19, 1986 for a 1987 third-round pick and a 1988 fifth-round pick. Cribbs gave the 49ers two useful seasons, totaling 890 rushing yards with six rushing touchdowns plus receiving production. Buffalo used No. 78 on Jamie Mueller, a 57-game fullback and 32-game starter, while No. 135 Kirk Roach never played an NFL regular-season game, balancing the returns.

Buffalo moved up from the third round to pick No. 61 in the 2002 draft, sending San Francisco selections 69 and 102. The Bills selected defensive end Ryan Denney, who became a long-term rotational defender. San Francisco used its two picks on linebacker Saleem Rasheed and kicker Jeff Chandler, giving the 49ers two usable contributors from the move down.

Buffalo traded veteran receiver Stevie Johnson to San Francisco for a conditional 2015 selection that became a fourth-round pick. Johnson caught 35 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns in his lone 49ers season before his release. Buffalo later used the acquired draft asset within another transaction, creating flexibility without producing a major long-term Bills contributor from the original return.