Cleveland acquired kicker Matt Bahr from San Francisco in…
Cleveland acquired kicker Matt Bahr from San Francisco in October 1981 for a 1983 ninth-round draft choice. Bahr became a long-term Browns fixture, playing 115 games for Cleveland and entering 1990 as the franchise's all-time leader in field-goal percentage. San Francisco later moved the late pick in another transaction, but the original return never approached Bahr's nine-season value. Cleveland earns a strong A- to C win.
Cleveland Browns Received
- player Matt Bahr
San Francisco 49ers Received
- pick 1983 ninth round pick (#235) [later traded with 1983 twelfth round pick (#313-Oliver Williams) to Chicago Bears for Jeff Williams ]
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Cleveland acquired kicker Matt Bahr from San Francisco on October 6, 1981 for a ninth-round selection in the 1983 draft. The Browns' own 1990 media guide confirms both the trade and the compensation, noting that San Francisco later traded the pick to Chicago. The acquisition price was therefore firmly in the low-cost range, which makes Bahr's subsequent longevity in Cleveland especially important to the evaluation.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland acquired kicker Matt Bahr from San Francisco in October 1981 for a 1983 ninth-round draft choice. Bahr became a long-term Browns fixture, playing 115 games for Cleveland and entering 1990 as the franchise's all-time leader in field-goal percentage. San Francisco later moved the late pick in another transaction, but the original return never approached Bahr's nine-season value. Cleveland earns a strong A- to C win.
San Francisco 49ers Return
San Francisco traded Matt Bahr to Cleveland for a 1983 ninth-round selection, a modest return for a kicker who became far more valuable to the Browns. Bahr spent nine seasons in Cleveland, scored consistently and set a club standard for field-goal accuracy. The 49ers retained a movable late-round asset and later dealt the pick, but that flexibility was small compared with the sustained production Cleveland received. The Browns clearly won the transaction.
Value in Hindsight
This is a clear example of a modest acquisition becoming disproportionately valuable. Cleveland paid an asset near the end of the draft and received nearly a decade of stable production. San Francisco's return had some transactional utility, but it did not produce an equivalent football result.
Final Verdict
Cleveland Browns Win is decisive. Cleveland receives an A- for acquiring a long-term, highly reliable specialist at minimal cost. San Francisco receives a C for obtaining a legitimate late pick and retaining flexibility, but the club gave up the far more valuable realized asset. The grade spread reflects Bahr's durability and franchise-level kicking value rather than his position alone.