The Rams traded wide receiver Preston Dennard to Buffalo in…
The Rams traded wide receiver Preston Dennard to Buffalo in 1984 for a 1985 fifth-round pick. Los Angeles used that No. 113 selection on Kevin Greene, who developed into a Hall of Fame pass rusher and one of the most productive sack artists in NFL history. Dennard gave Buffalo one useful season, but the draft choice's extraordinary conversion makes this a decisive Rams victory.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1985 fifth-round pick, No. 113 overall, used on Kevin Greene
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Preston Dennard
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
In August 1984, the Rams sent wide receiver Preston Dennard to Buffalo for the Bills' fifth-round selection in the 1985 draft. Los Angeles eventually used that choice, No. 113 overall, on Kevin Greene. No additional player or undisclosed pick was part of the documented exchange, making the core transaction unusually simple.
Why Buffalo Wanted Dennard
The Bills were adding an experienced receiver who had already produced for Los Angeles. Dennard did help immediately. In 1984 he caught 30 passes for 417 yards and seven touchdowns, a strong scoring contribution for a veteran acquired before the season. The problem was duration: he spent only one year with Buffalo before continuing his career elsewhere.
What the Rams Did With the Pick
Fifth-round picks are normally modest assets, but this one became an outlier. Greene developed from a late-round selection into one of the premier pass rushers of his generation. He began his career with the Rams, became a dominant sack producer and eventually built a résumé worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Why the Outcome Is So Lopsided
The Bills' logic was understandable because a fifth-rounder for a veteran contributor is a common roster-building exchange. Historical grading, however, must account for what the selection actually became. Los Angeles turned the pick into a player whose career value was exponentially greater than a single productive Dennard season.
The Draft Lesson
This trade is a reminder that the value of future picks can change dramatically once a player is attached to them. Buffalo did not knowingly trade Kevin Greene; it traded the opportunity represented by pick No. 113. The Rams deserve credit for identifying and developing the player who made that opportunity exceptional.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles wins by a wide margin. Dennard helped Buffalo in 1984, but Greene became a Hall of Fame defender. Converting a fifth-round return into that level of player is an A-plus outcome for the Rams.