Philadelphia acquired Bob Holly from Washington for a 1985…
Philadelphia acquired Bob Holly from Washington for a 1985 seventh-round pick, later identified as No. 177 Jamie Harris. The Eagles did not receive meaningful regular-season value from Holly. Washington at least converted a surplus quarterback into draft capital, but Harris was among the team’s August 1985 cuts and did not become a regular-season contributor. With both acquired assets producing little, the fairest hindsight result is an even trade at a low grade.
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Bob Holly
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 1985 seventh round pick (#177-Jamie Harris)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On August 14, 1984, Washington traded quarterback Bob Holly to Philadelphia for an undisclosed 1985 draft pick. Draft transaction records identify the final compensation as the 1985 seventh-round selection at No. 177, which Washington used on Jamie Harris. The package is therefore well established: Philadelphia received a veteran backup quarterback and Washington received a late-round future selection.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Holly was acquired as experienced quarterback depth, but his Eagles tenure produced virtually no regular-season value. Transaction records from the period show Philadelphia moved on from him quickly, and he did not become a meaningful on-field contributor for the club. The acquisition cost was only a seventh-round choice, so the downside was limited, but the Eagles did not receive the usable reserve value they were seeking.
Washington Commanders Return
Washington converted Holly into the No. 177 pick and selected Jamie Harris in the seventh round of the 1985 draft. That created a clear asset path, but Harris did not make the regular-season roster. The Washington Post reported that he was among the team’s cuts on August 20, 1985. The Commanders therefore successfully turned a surplus quarterback into a draft selection without obtaining lasting player value from the pick.
Value in Hindsight
Both sides completed sensible low-cost transactions and both realized almost nothing afterward. Philadelphia surrendered only a seventh-rounder for veteran quarterback insurance, while Washington gained a draft choice for a player buried on the depth chart. The problem for hindsight grading is that neither acquired asset became a regular-season contributor. That symmetry makes a winner difficult to justify.
Final Verdict
This is an even trade, with D grades for both teams. Philadelphia received little from Holly, and Washington’s No. 177 pick did not survive to meaningful regular-season value. The exchange was rational at the time but produced almost no measurable payoff on either side.