San Francisco sent tight end Jim Obradovich to Tampa Bay for…
San Francisco sent tight end Jim Obradovich to Tampa Bay for the 1979 10th-round pick used on Howard Ballage. Ballage never played an NFL regular-season game. Obradovich, by contrast, spent six seasons with the Buccaneers, appearing in 89 games with 23 starts and seven receiving touchdowns over his career. Tampa Bay turned a late pick into a durable contributor.
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 1979 tenth round pick (#252-Howard Ballage)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Jim O'Bradovich
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On July 6, 1978, San Francisco traded tight end Jim Obradovich to Tampa Bay for a 1979 10th-round draft choice. That selection became No. 252, Howard Ballage. Draft records and subsequent player statistics make the value comparison unusually clean for a late-round exchange.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return
Obradovich immediately became useful in Tampa Bay. In 1978 he played all 16 games, started nine, caught 14 passes for 219 yards and scored three touchdowns. He remained with the Buccaneers through 1983. Across those six Tampa Bay seasons he appeared in 89 games and made 23 starts, giving the young franchise dependable tight-end depth and occasional receiving production.
San Francisco 49ers Return
San Francisco's compensation was a 10th-round pick, and the club used No. 252 on defensive back Howard Ballage. Ballage did not appear in an NFL regular-season game. The pick therefore generated no recorded NFL on-field return for the 49ers, even though receiving draft capital rather than losing Obradovich outright had some transaction value at the time.
Value in Hindsight
Late-round trades often produce limited separation, but this one produced a clear one. Tampa Bay received six seasons from the acquired player. San Francisco's pick did not produce an NFL appearance. Obradovich was never a star, yet his longevity, 23 starts and 1978 production are far more than the 49ers realized from the selection.
Final Verdict
Tampa Bay wins comfortably. The Buccaneers earn a B+ for turning a 10th-round choice into a six-year contributor. San Francisco earns a D because the acquired pick became a player who never appeared in an NFL regular-season game.