Miami traded tackle Wayne Mass to New England on August 28,…
Miami traded tackle Wayne Mass to New England on August 28, 1972 for the Patriots' 1973 seventh-round pick, which became No. 160 overall. Miami selected linebacker Kevin Reilly with that choice. Mass played only six games for New England in 1972, while Reilly never played for Miami, making this a modest Dolphins win rather than a major haul.
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1973 seventh round pick (#160-Kevin Reilly)
New England Patriots Received
- player Wayne Mass
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Miami had Wayne Mass on its 1971 roster but moved the veteran tackle before the 1972 season was underway. The Dolphins' own all-time trade history records the transaction on August 28, 1972: Mass went to New England for the Patriots' seventh-round selection in the 1973 draft. That club record is reinforced by Miami's draft history and the draft-pick transaction history, which connect the same pick to Mass rather than to guard-center Bill Griffin.
What Miami Received
The compensation became the 160th overall selection in the 1973 draft. Miami used it on Villanova linebacker Kevin Reilly. Reilly did not ultimately play a regular-season game for the Dolphins; he spent 1973 and 1974 with Philadelphia and later appeared for New England in 1975. That limits the practical return. Still, Miami converted a tackle it was prepared to move into a defined draft asset, and the official draft record cleanly identifies the resulting selection.
What New England Received
New England received Mass alone in this transaction. He appeared in six games for the Patriots in 1972, so the acquisition supplied only brief depth. Bill Griffin belongs to a separate September 26, 1972 Miami-New England trade that produced a different seventh-round pick, No. 163 overall. Separating those deals is important because combining Griffin with Mass incorrectly makes New England's return look larger and collapses two distinct draft-pick chains into one.
Final Verdict
Miami Dolphins Win, narrowly. A C+ for Miami and C for New England fit the limited stakes. New England obtained six games from Mass, while Miami received a seventh-round pick that became Reilly but produced no Dolphins regular-season value. The edge comes from Miami receiving a concrete future asset for a short-lived Patriots acquisition, not from Reilly becoming a significant Miami player.