Buffalo Bills received Tom Beard in the exchange with Denver…
Buffalo Bills received Tom Beard in the exchange with Denver Broncos. Tom Beard gave Buffalo only a short 1972 stint, so the player return was real but limited and did not develop into a long-term advantage. Against Denver Broncos's return of 1973 13th round pick (#319-Ed Smith (Alexander)), that result supports a C grade. The transaction is judged as Denver Broncos Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Tom Beard
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1973 13th round pick (#319-Ed Smith (Alexander))
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos completed this transaction on 1972-09-07. Buffalo Bills received Tom Beard, while Denver Broncos received 1973 13th round pick (#319-Ed Smith (Alexander)). Historical records support the core package, so the fairest comparison is the football value each asset actually produced after the exchange.
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo Bills received Tom Beard in the exchange with Denver Broncos. Tom Beard gave Buffalo only a short 1972 stint, so the player return was real but limited and did not develop into a long-term advantage. Against Denver Broncos's return of 1973 13th round pick (#319-Ed Smith (Alexander)), that result supports a C grade. The transaction is judged as Denver Broncos Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Denver Broncos Return
Denver Broncos received 1973 13th round pick (#319-Ed Smith (Alexander)) in the exchange with Buffalo Bills. The thirteenth-round choice became No. 319 Ed Smith, whose later NFL contribution was modest but still somewhat greater than Beard's Buffalo return. Against Buffalo Bills's return of Tom Beard, that result supports a C+ grade. The transaction is judged as Denver Broncos Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Value in Hindsight
Tom Beard gave Buffalo only a short 1972 stint, so the player return was real but limited and did not develop into a long-term advantage. The thirteenth-round choice became No. 319 Ed Smith, whose later NFL contribution was modest but still somewhat greater than Beard's Buffalo return. 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 grades remain close; when the production gap was substantial, the verdict follows that separation.
Final Verdict
Denver Broncos Win. Buffalo Bills receives a C, while Denver Broncos receives a C+. 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.