Buffalo Bills received 1970 sixth round pick (#135-Grant…
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
- pick 1970 sixth round pick (#135-Grant Guthrie)
New England Patriots Received
- player Tom Janik
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots completed this transaction on 1969-08-27. Buffalo Bills received 1970 sixth round pick (#135-Grant Guthrie), while New England Patriots received Tom Janik. Historical records support the core package, so the fairest comparison is the football value each asset actually produced after the exchange.
Buffalo Bills Return
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. That outcome supports the C grade assigned to Buffalo Bills. The mark credits value traceable to this deal, including playing time, starts, special-teams work, or the downstream use of a draft choice. It stays proportional to the size of the transaction rather than treating every acquired asset as equally important.
New England Patriots Return
Tom Janik served as New England's primary punter for multiple seasons and also supplied defensive value, making him the more productive realized asset in the exchange. That outcome supports the B grade assigned to New England Patriots. The same standard applies here: the asset is judged by its realized NFL contribution, not by hypothetical upside that never became part of the return. That keeps the comparison focused on what the club actually received.
Value in Hindsight
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. Tom Janik served as New England's primary punter for multiple seasons and also supplied defensive value, making him the more productive realized asset in the exchange. Together, those outcomes explain the grade spread. Useful short-term contribution still matters, but a longer or more productive return deserves the stronger mark. When both sides generated little value, the grading stays close; when the production gap was substantial, the verdict follows that separation.
Final Verdict
New England Patriots Win. Buffalo Bills receives a C, while New England Patriots receives a B. The grades reflect the documented exchange and the value that followed from it, with the margin scaled to the actual importance and longevity of the returns.