Cleveland Browns received 1978 third round pick (#67-Larry…
Cleveland Browns received 1978 third round pick (#67-Larry Collins); 1979 seventh round pick (#175-Jack Matia) from Detroit Lions. Collins contributed immediately as a runner and returner, and Cleveland also retained useful value from the later seventh-round asset and its downstream movement. The A- grade reflects the direct value Cleveland Browns realized from the transaction, with the final Even Trade call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1978 third round pick (#67-Larry Collins)
- pick 1979 seventh round pick (#175-Jack Matia)
Detroit Lions Received
- other rights to Tom Skladany
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1978-04-27, Cleveland sent Detroit two draft choices for the rights to punter Tom Skladany. The Browns received the picks that became Larry Collins and Jack Matia, while Detroit secured Skladany. The comparison centers on what each club actually received after the transaction, including regular-season service and draft outcomes that can be tied directly to the exchanged assets. That approach keeps a small historical deal proportional to the value it ultimately created.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland Browns received 1978 third round pick (#67-Larry Collins); 1979 seventh round pick (#175-Jack Matia) from Detroit Lions. Collins contributed immediately as a runner and returner, and Cleveland also retained useful value from the later seventh-round asset and its downstream movement. The A- grade reflects the direct value Cleveland Browns realized from the transaction, with the final Even Trade call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit Lions received rights to Tom Skladany from Cleveland Browns. Skladany became a Pro Bowl and All-Pro punter for Detroit, giving the Lions high-level performance from a specialist acquired through the trade. The A- grade reflects the direct value Detroit Lions realized from the transaction, with the final Even Trade call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.
Value in Hindsight
This transaction produced real value on both sides, unusual for a deal centered on a specialist and mid-to-late draft capital. Detroit landed the best individual player outcome, while Cleveland still extracted useful multi-part value. The grade gap stays limited when both sides received something useful and widens only when the documented returns clearly separated. This keeps the evaluation tied to the transaction itself instead of later reputation.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. Cleveland Browns earns A-, and Detroit Lions earns A-. The returns are strong enough on both sides to support an Even Trade with matching A- grades rather than forcing a winner. Those grades reflect the package each club received, the service that followed, and the downstream value that can be connected confidently to the original exchange.