Atlanta Falcons received 1975 twelfth round pick (selection…
Atlanta Falcons received 1975 twelfth round pick (selection not identified), while New England Patriots received Don Highsmith. New England acquired Don Highsmith from Atlanta for a 1975 twelfth-round choice. Highsmith's recorded NFL playing career had already ended, while the exact Atlanta selection has not been identified. The supported history provides enough detail to judge the exchange without overstating uncertain downstream information. Atlanta Falcons earns a C grade, and the overall verdict is Atlanta Falcons Win.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1975 twelfth round pick (selection not identified)
New England Patriots Received
- player Don Highsmith
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1974-08-13, Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots completed an exchange in which Atlanta Falcons received 1975 twelfth round pick (selection not identified), while New England Patriots received Don Highsmith. The deal was modest in scale, but its core terms are clear enough to evaluate. The useful question is what each club actually turned the acquired player or selection into, rather than what the asset might have become in a different setting.
Atlanta Falcons Return
Atlanta Falcons came away with 1975 twelfth round pick (selection not identified). That side receives a C. The grade reflects direct football value from the acquired asset, including regular-season contribution, starting work, or identifiable draft value where applicable. A smaller return can still be useful, but the score stays proportional to the size of the exchange and the length of the benefit.
New England Patriots Return
New England Patriots received Don Highsmith, which earns a D+. The same standard applies here. Immediate playing time counts, durable production counts more, and a selection that never produces meaningful NFL value receives limited credit. The comparison does not award extra value for possibilities that the historical record does not firmly establish.
Value in Hindsight
New England acquired Don Highsmith from Atlanta for a 1975 twelfth-round choice. Highsmith's recorded NFL playing career had already ended, while the exact Atlanta selection has not been identified. That supported outcome gives the clearest hindsight measure of the transaction. Minor date or pick-identity uncertainty remains visible when necessary, but it does not erase an exchange whose base terms are supported. The evaluation therefore follows the value that can be tied directly to what each club received.
Final Verdict
The final judgment is Atlanta Falcons Win, reflecting the stronger supported return in hindsight. Atlanta Falcons receives C, while New England Patriots receives D+. The grades are intentionally scaled to the deal: a useful role or late-round return can win an exchange without being treated like a franchise-changing haul. The final call rests on realized football value and the strongest supported description of the package.