Buffalo moved Mike Mercer to Kansas City and received the…

The Exchange

Buffalo traded kicker Mike Mercer to Kansas City on October 2, 1966 for a 1967 fifth-round selection. That choice became No. 131. Buffalo later moved the pick again as part of the much larger Daryle Lamonica transaction with Oakland.

Buffalo Bills Return

Buffalo moved Mike Mercer to Kansas City and received the 1967 fifth-round selection that became No. 131. The Bills later included that asset in the major Daryle Lamonica transaction, giving the pick some secondary leverage. Kansas City received the clearer direct value: Mercer kicked in ten games, made 20 field goals and helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl I during the 1966 season.

Kansas City Chiefs Return

Kansas City acquired kicker Mike Mercer from Buffalo for a 1967 fifth-round pick, No. 131. Mercer immediately became an important piece of the Chiefs' 1966 AFL championship run, making 20 of 26 field-goal attempts in ten games. Buffalo later used the acquired pick as part of the larger Daryle Lamonica trade, but the direct exchange delivered Kansas City the stronger immediate football return.

Value in Hindsight

The cleanest way to grade the original transaction is to separate direct performance from later dealmaking. Kansas City received a kicker who immediately helped a championship team. Buffalo received an asset with enough value to be used in another significant trade, but the fifth-round choice never provided the Bills with comparable direct on-field production. Mercer made the original exchange worthwhile almost immediately.

Final Verdict

Kansas City earns a B+ and Buffalo a C+. The Bills recovered useful draft leverage, so this was not a giveaway. Still, Mercer gave the Chiefs high-level kicking production during an AFL championship run, which is the strongest realized result attached directly to the trade.