TradeVerdicts records 3 trades between
Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers across 1978–2024. Historical
franchise identities are normalized to the current franchises here,
while each underlying trade keeps its own sourced date, assets,
grades, and verdict.
This page includes every public TradeVerdicts record in which both
current franchises participate. Multi-team trades remain in the
chronology when both clubs are part of the transaction.
The page is rendered at build time, so search engines and readers
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Complete Matchup Chronology
3 Recorded Trades
Oldest to newest
Trade 1
May 10, 1978
Detroit Lions Win
Detroit LionsB
Tampa Bay BuccaneersC-
Detroit Lions received
1979 fourth round pick (#86-Russell Davis)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers received
Rocky Freitas (Rockne Freitas)
Detroit Lions received 1979 fourth round pick (#86-Russell Davis) in the 1978-05-10 exchange with Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Detroit received No. 86 in the 1979 draft and later traded that selection to Pittsburgh for defensive back Jimmy Allen, extending the value of the original deal. Against Tampa Bay Buccaneers' return of Rocky Freitas (Rockne Freitas), that outcome supports a B grade. The transaction is judged Detroit Lions Win, with the mark tied to the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Detroit acquired Johnthan Banks from Tampa Bay for a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick in November 2016, and the condition was not met, so the pick was never conveyed. Banks appeared in only two games for the Lions before being waived, which limits the upside. Still, Detroit received a no-cost roster look while Tampa Bay ultimately received no draft asset, giving the Lions a small but real win.
Tampa Bay traded Carlton Davis plus 2024 and 2025 sixth-round picks to Detroit for No. 92, which became Jalen McMillan. Davis gave the Lions a strong one-year starting corner during their 15-win 2024 season before leaving in free agency. McMillan scored eight touchdowns as a rookie, then lost much of 2025 to injury. Both teams received exactly the kind of value they sought, making an even grade more appropriate now.
