Pittsburgh sent Greg Hawthorne to New England and received…

The Exchange

On 1984-08-21, Pittsburgh Steelers received 1985 ninth round pick (#242-Andre Harris), while New England Patriots received Greg Hawthorne. The exchange is supported by the historical transaction and draft records carried into this review, allowing the two returns to be judged by the value each club actually controlled after the deal.

Pittsburgh Steelers Return

Pittsburgh sent Greg Hawthorne to New England and received the 1985 ninth-round pick used on Andre Harris. Neither side produced a major long-term payoff, but the Steelers retained a controlled draft asset and realized the slightly better overall return. That small advantage supports a C+ grade for Pittsburgh rather than treating a low-impact exchange as a decisive win.

Boston/New England Patriots Return

New England acquired Greg Hawthorne in exchange for the future ninth-round selection that Pittsburgh used on Andre Harris. Hawthorne gave the Patriots the player side of a simple veteran-for-pick transaction, but the realized value remained modest. With Pittsburgh holding the slightly stronger hindsight return, New England earns a C grade in a deal where neither club gained a major advantage.

Value in Hindsight

This is a narrow-value transaction rather than a dramatic trade. The player and the ninth-round pick both produced limited separation, so the evaluation turns on which club extracted the slightly better controlled return. Pittsburgh gets that small edge, but the grades remain close because the evidence does not support treating either side as a major winner or loser.

Final Verdict

The final call is Pittsburgh Steelers Win. Pittsburgh Steelers earns C+, and New England Patriots earns C. Those grades reflect the supported package and the relative football value each side realized, while keeping the scale of the transaction in proper context.