Buffalo moved down from No. 3 to No. 8 during the first round…
Buffalo moved down from No. 3 to No. 8 during the first round of the 1987 draft and added a second-round pick. The Bills selected linebacker Shane Conlan at No. 8, and the extra second-round asset was later used in the sequence that moved Buffalo up for cornerback Nate Odomes. Conlan became a three-time Pro Bowler, giving Buffalo a major win from trading down.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1987 first round pick (#8-Shane Conlan)
- pick 1987 second round pick (later used in trade-up for #29 Nate Odomes)
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1987 first round pick (#3-Alonzo Highsmith)
Trade Analysis
This trade was completed during the first round of the 1987 draft, not weeks earlier. Buffalo held the No. 3 selection and moved down to Houston's No. 8 slot while acquiring an additional second-round choice. Houston used No. 3 on Alonzo Highsmith, while Buffalo selected Penn State linebacker Shane Conlan at No. 8.
Conlan became the centerpiece of one of the best periods in Bills history. He earned three Pro Bowl selections from 1988 through 1990, played six seasons in Buffalo and was a major part of the defense that reached three consecutive Super Bowls during his tenure. Buffalo also received an extra second-round asset. That pick should not be described as though the Bills themselves selected Ricky Reynolds at No. 36; Buffalo later used the acquired draft value in the move with Tampa Bay that allowed it to select Nate Odomes at No. 29.
Houston's bet on Highsmith did not work nearly as well. He started 35 games for the Oilers over three seasons and had useful stretches, including 531 rushing yards in 1989, but his NFL career produced only 1,195 rushing yards. Injuries and limited longevity prevented the third overall choice from becoming the offensive centerpiece Houston hoped to acquire.
The Bills therefore won on both sides of the trade-down equation. They landed the superior long-term player eight spots later and gained an additional premium asset that helped support another successful move. Houston received a legitimate starter, which keeps the grade from falling to failing territory, but the gap between Highsmith's career and Conlan's Pro Bowl run is substantial. Buffalo's ability to move down without sacrificing player quality makes this an A-level result.