Buffalo traded O.J. Simpson to San Francisco for five draft…
Buffalo traded O.J. Simpson to San Francisco for five draft choices spread across three drafts. The package included the 1979 No. 1 overall pick and the 1980 second-round selection used on Joe Cribbs. Not every pick became a Bills star, but the volume, premium position and later productive players gave Buffalo far more long-term value than Simpson provided the 49ers.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1978 second round pick (#38-Scott Hutchinson)
- pick 1978 third round pick (#65-Dan Fulton / Danny Fulton)
- pick 1979 first round pick (#1-Tom Cousineau)
- pick 1979 fourth round pick (#83-Ken Johnson (c))
- pick 1980 second round pick (#29-Joe Cribbs)
San Francisco 49ers Received
- player O.J. Simpson
Trade Analysis
San Francisco made one of the era’s biggest veteran bets when it acquired O.J. Simpson in March 1978. The 49ers sent Buffalo five selections: second- and third-round choices in 1978, a first- and fourth-round choice in 1979 and a second-round choice in 1980. The future first-rounder ultimately became the No. 1 overall pick, giving the package enormous theoretical value before any player outcomes are considered.
Simpson was already past his Buffalo peak. He played two seasons for San Francisco and did not recreate the rushing dominance that had made him one of the league’s defining stars. The 49ers therefore paid a premium package for a short late-career return at a position where age had already reduced the upside.
Buffalo’s five picks produced mixed individual results, so the Bills’ grade should not be based on pick volume alone. Tom Cousineau, selected first overall in 1979, initially chose the CFL rather than Buffalo. But the package also included the 1980 second-round selection used on Joe Cribbs, who became a major offensive contributor, while the other choices provided additional roster opportunities. Even without treating every pick as a success, the Bills had far more usable long-term value and flexibility.
Buffalo earns an A- because it converted an aging superstar into a massive multi-year draft package and generated meaningful downstream production. San Francisco receives a D+ because Simpson still had historical stature and supplied some rushing value, but two declining seasons were nowhere near enough to justify five picks, especially one that landed first overall.