Seattle moved from No. 16 to No. 10 in the 1980 draft and…

This is a strong example of a draft trade where both teams should be satisfied decades later. Seattle paid Buffalo a third-round pick to climb from No. 16 to No. 10 in the 1980 first round. The Seahawks used the higher selection on defensive end Jacob Green, while Buffalo stayed in the first round and selected guard Jim Ritcher at No. 16.

Green became one of the foundational defenders in Seahawks history. He spent his prime in Seattle, earned Pro Bowl recognition, became one of the franchise's most productive pass rushers, and later entered the Seahawks Ring of Honor. For an expansion-era club still building its identity, landing that kind of long-term defensive cornerstone justified the cost of moving up.

Buffalo's return was equally substantial. Ritcher became a fixture on the offensive line, earned two Pro Bowl selections, and started for the Bills throughout the franchise's run to four consecutive Super Bowls. Buffalo later placed him on its Wall of Fame. The extra third-round pick was not needed to make the trade successful; Ritcher's career alone gave the Bills premium value after moving down six spots.

The earlier Seattle-win grading understated Buffalo's outcome. When one side lands a franchise pass rusher and the other lands a franchise guard who anchors a championship-era line, forcing a winner adds more distortion than insight. Both teams executed their draft strategy successfully and received long-term, high-level starters. Matching A- grades recognize the exceptional return on each side while leaving room below A+ for the fact that neither player became a first-ballot, league-defining superstar. Even Trade is the fairest verdict.