Buffalo traded Jeff Winans to Oakland for a 1977 third-round…
Buffalo traded Jeff Winans to Oakland for a 1977 third-round draft choice that the Bills later moved to Houston in the Emmett Edwards deal. Bills historical material supports the third-round return, while the exact direct connection to pick No. 84 is less certain. Buffalo still converted a player with little Oakland value into useful draft currency.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1977 third-round draft choice (later traded to Houston for Emmett Edwards)
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player Jeff Winans
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Buffalo sent Jeff Winans to Oakland on August 15, 1976, for a 1977 third-round draft choice. A Bills historical guide says that choice was later traded to Houston, while transaction records mark the exact direct path to No. 84 as unconfirmed. The trade can still be judged without forcing that disputed pick-number connection.
What Buffalo Received
The Bills obtained genuine third-round draft capital and later used that asset in another transaction involving Emmett Edwards. That alone created flexibility and preserved value from a player Buffalo was willing to move. Because the precise pick identity is not firmly established, Buffalo should be credited for the supported third-round choice and its later movement, not for any speculative downstream player.
What Oakland Received
Winans did not generate a regular-season return for the Raiders. Pro Football Archives records his trade to Oakland and subsequent release before he later appeared in three games, with one start, for New Orleans. Oakland therefore spent a meaningful future selection on a player who did not contribute to the Raiders in the regular season.
Why the Value Landed Here
The direct comparison is enough to separate the clubs. Buffalo secured a third-round asset that remained useful in later roster maneuvering, while Oakland received no regular-season production from Winans. The uncertain pick-number chain lowers confidence slightly, but it does not change the core value judgment because the existence of the third-round consideration is well supported.
Final Verdict
Buffalo receives a B+ and Oakland receives a D. The Bills win by turning Winans into valuable draft currency, while the Raiders received no regular-season contribution. The exact downstream pick number is intentionally left out of the grading calculation.