Detroit Lions received 1986 twelfth round pick (selection not…
Detroit Lions received 1986 twelfth round pick (selection not identified) from Los Angeles Rams, while Los Angeles Rams received James McDonald in the 1985-10-15 deal. In hindsight, Detroit Lions's return did not separate far enough from Los Angeles Rams to justify a higher grade. The final grades are B- for Detroit Lions and B- for Los Angeles Rams, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1986 twelfth round pick (selection not identified)
Los Angeles Rams Received
- player James McDonald
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1985-10-15, Detroit Lions received 1986 twelfth round pick (selection not identified), while Los Angeles Rams received James McDonald. That exact package is the baseline for the hindsight grade. Later movement of a draft choice is treated as downstream context rather than rewritten as if the acquiring club directly selected every eventual player attached to that asset.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit Lions received 1986 twelfth round pick (selection not identified) from Los Angeles Rams, while Los Angeles Rams received James McDonald in the 1985-10-15 deal. In hindsight, Detroit Lions's return did not separate far enough from Los Angeles Rams to justify a higher grade. The final grades are B- for Detroit Lions and B- for Los Angeles Rams, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles Rams received James McDonald from Detroit Lions, while Detroit Lions received 1986 twelfth round pick (selection not identified) in the 1985-10-15 deal. In hindsight, Los Angeles Rams's return did not separate far enough from Detroit Lions to justify a higher grade. The final grades are B- for Los Angeles Rams and B- for Detroit Lions, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.
Value in Hindsight
The Rams acquired James McDonald while Detroit received a 1986 twelfth-round choice. The low draft cost and limited long-term separation on either side support the existing even grade. That distinction matters in historical trade analysis because the goal is not to force a winner from every transaction; it is to identify real separation when the evidence supports it and preserve uncertainty when it does not.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. Neither side produced enough clearly superior realized value to justify assigning the win. Detroit Lions is graded B-, and Los Angeles Rams is graded B-. The verdict remains proportional to the stakes: a useful starter, durable contributor or clearly superior pick outcome can move the grade, while thin evidence and unresolved consideration cannot.