Green Bay moved from No. 14 to No. 7 in the 1985 draft,…
Green Bay moved from No. 14 to No. 7 in the 1985 draft, sending Buffalo the 14th pick and No. 42 while receiving a future fourth-rounder in addition to No. 7. The Packers selected long-term tackle Ken Ruettgers and later landed pass rusher Tim Harris with the future pick. Buffalo received Derrick Burroughs and Chris Burkett, but Green Bay's return proved substantially stronger.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1985 first round pick (#14-Derrick Burroughs)
- pick 1985 second round pick (#42-Chris Burkett)
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 1985 first round pick (#7-Ken Ruettgers)
- pick 1986 fourth round pick (#84-Tim Harris)
Trade Analysis
Green Bay's 1985 move with Buffalo produced two long-term pieces. The Packers sent selections No. 14 and No. 42 to the Bills, moved up to No. 7, and also received Buffalo's 1986 fourth-round choice. Green Bay used No. 7 on tackle Ken Ruettgers. The future fourth-rounder became No. 84 and was used on linebacker Tim Harris. The asset description should identify Harris cleanly without the stray parenthetical text attached to his name.
Ruettgers became a durable fixture on Green Bay's offensive line, playing 12 seasons and earning a place in the Packers Hall of Fame. Harris became one of the franchise's most productive pass rushers of the late 1980s and is also a Packers Hall of Fame member. Getting two major contributors from one trade gives Green Bay an unusually strong realized return.
Buffalo received No. 14 and No. 42, selecting defensive back Derrick Burroughs and receiver Chris Burkett. Burroughs showed promise and supplied meaningful starting work before a serious neck injury shortened his career, so the Bills should not receive a failing grade. Burkett also contributed as an NFL receiver, but the combined Buffalo return did not match Green Bay's two long-term standouts.
The Packers earn an A+ because both acquired assets became important players. Buffalo's C+ acknowledges legitimate contribution and unfortunate injury context while recognizing the value gap. Green Bay clearly wins the trade in hindsight.
The downstream fourth-rounder is especially important because it produced Harris rather than merely representing generic future value. Green Bay therefore won at both the immediate premium-pick level with Ruettgers and the delayed pick level with another major contributor.