Miami received Philadelphia's 1981 fifth-round pick, No. 138,…
Miami received Philadelphia's 1981 fifth-round pick, No. 138, and used it on Tommy Vigorito. Vigorito played 35 NFL games and contributed as a runner, receiver and punt returner, including two punt-return touchdowns, so the Dolphins did receive useful value. The longer view produces a B- grade for Miami Dolphins. Philadelphia earns a B+ and Miami a B-.
Miami Dolphins Received
- pick 1981 fifth round pick (#138-Tom Vigorito / Tommy Vigorito)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Leroy Harris (b. 1954-07-03)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Miami Dolphins received 1981 fifth round pick (#138-Tom Vigorito / Tommy Vigorito), while Philadelphia Eagles received Leroy Harris (b. 1954-07-03). The transaction is best judged by the football value those assets ultimately produced for the teams that acquired them, rather than by draft position or name recognition alone.
What Miami Dolphins Received
Miami received Philadelphia's 1981 fifth-round pick, No. 138, and used it on Tommy Vigorito. Vigorito played 35 NFL games and contributed as a runner, receiver and punt returner, including two punt-return touchdowns, so the Dolphins did receive useful value.
What Philadelphia Eagles Received
Philadelphia received running back Leroy Harris. Harris immediately played 15 games with 13 starts in 1979, rushing for 504 yards and adding 107 receiving yards. He started all 15 games in 1980 as well, giving the Eagles a larger near-term offensive role than Miami's later fifth-round return.
How the Value Developed
This was closer than the original empty-copy record suggested, because Vigorito became a useful return specialist and depth player. The difference is Harris' immediate workload during a competitive period for Philadelphia. Two seasons of starting backfield service outweigh the useful but narrower return-role value Miami received from the fifth-round choice.
Why the Difference Matters
The important distinction is realized team value. Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles each acquired something usable, but the length, role and quality of the resulting contributions were not equal. That difference is what drives the hindsight grades without exaggerating the importance of a standard-tier transaction.
Final Verdict
Philadelphia earns a B+ and Miami a B-. Both teams found usable value, which keeps the gap modest, but Harris delivered the stronger direct football return. The fifth-round pick was not wasted; it simply did not equal the immediate starting contribution Philadelphia received.