Denver sent the rights to Tom Bougus to Buffalo for a 1973…
Denver sent the rights to Tom Bougus to Buffalo for a 1973 sixteenth-round pick that became running back Oliver Ross. Independent player records support the Bougus spelling and show no NFL regular-season career for him. Ross, by contrast, played 25 games for Denver from 1973 through 1975 and provided backfield depth. Turning the final-round selection into multiple seasons of game-day service gives Denver the clear hindsight win.
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Tom Bougus
Denver Broncos Received
- pick 1973 16th round pick (#398- Oliver Ross )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On January 23, 1973, Denver received Buffalo's sixteenth-round draft choice in exchange for Tom Bougus. The spelling matters because some secondary transaction material renders the surname differently; Boston College and Pro Football Archives identify him as Tom Bougus. Denver used the 398th overall pick on running back Oliver Ross, creating a straightforward rights-for-late-pick exchange.
Denver Broncos Return
Ross beat the long odds attached to a sixteenth-round selection. He reached Denver's regular-season roster and played 25 games for the Broncos from 1973 through 1975. His offensive role was limited, but he supplied actual multi-season backfield depth, including rushing production in 1975. Any player who becomes a recurring game-day contributor from pick No. 398 represents meaningful realized value.
Buffalo Bills Return
Bougus had played at Boston College and had been drafted by Denver, but Pro Football Archives does not record an NFL regular-season appearance for him. Buffalo therefore acquired player rights that never translated into game action for the Bills. There is no supported later Buffalo contribution that offsets Ross' three seasons in Denver.
Value in Hindsight
The comparison is simple: one side's asset became a 25-game NFL contributor, while the other side's asset never appeared in a regular-season game. Because Denver paid only the rights to a player who did not play in the league, the Broncos' conversion of the late selection looks especially efficient.
Final Verdict
Denver wins. The Broncos earn a B- for extracting three seasons and 25 appearances from the 398th pick. Buffalo earns a D+ because the Bougus acquisition produced no regular-season NFL value. The trade was minor in scale, but the realized outcome clearly favors Denver.