Green Bay acquired veteran guard Pat Matson from Cincinnati…
Green Bay acquired veteran guard Pat Matson from Cincinnati for a 1976 seventh-round choice. Matson immediately played all 14 games for the Packers and started six, providing useful line depth in his final NFL season. Cincinnati used the pick on defensive back Pete Rome, who did not become an NFL regular-season contributor, giving Green Bay the clearer return.
Cincinnati Bengals Received
- pick 1976 seventh round pick (#192-Pete Rome / Carmen Rome)
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Pat Matson
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Cincinnati traded veteran guard Pat Matson to Green Bay on September 9, 1975, for a future seventh-round pick. Bengals draft history identifies the resulting 1976 selection as No. 192, Pete Rome. Packers historical material also records the late-summer acquisition and notes that the compensation became a seventh-round choice.
What Green Bay Received
Matson gave the Packers immediate, usable offensive-line depth. He appeared in all 14 regular-season games in 1975 and started six of them. For a player acquired just before the season, that is meaningful short-term value. Green Bay did not need Matson to become a long-term cornerstone for the trade to work; a seventh-round pick was a modest cost for a veteran who could step into the lineup.
What Cincinnati Received
The Bengals did the sensible thing by recovering draft capital from an older player. They used the acquired selection on defensive back Pete Rome at No. 192. Cincinnati’s official draft history confirms both the pick and its Green Bay origin. Rome did not establish an NFL regular-season career, so the future-value side of the transaction failed to create a comparable return.
Why Green Bay Gets the Edge
The difference is realized production. Green Bay paid a late choice and received 14 games plus six starts. Cincinnati received a chance at a developmental player but no lasting NFL contribution from the selection. The cost was too small for the Bengals to be heavily penalized, yet the Packers clearly got more.
Final Verdict
Green Bay receives a B- and Cincinnati a D+. Matson provided a full useful season at a low price, while the acquired Bengals pick did not become an NFL contributor. The Packers win the trade on direct, immediate value.