Buffalo moved up seven spots in the second round of the 1987…
Buffalo moved up seven spots in the second round of the 1987 draft to select cornerback Nate Odomes at No. 29, sending Tampa Bay No. 36 and a fourth-round choice. Odomes started 107 regular-season games for the Bills, earned two Pro Bowl selections, and became a key member of Buffalo's Super Bowl defenses. The move-up delivered exactly the kind of long-term starter Buffalo targeted.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1987 second round pick (#29-Nate Odomes)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 1987 second round pick (#36-Ricky Reynolds)
- pick 1987 fourth round pick (#87-Ron Hall)
Trade Analysis
Buffalo and Tampa Bay both came away from this draft-day exchange with players who mattered. The Bills moved from No. 36 to No. 29 in the second round and added a fourth-round pick to the package. Buffalo used No. 29 on Nate Odomes, while Tampa Bay selected Ricky Reynolds at No. 36 and Ron Hall at No. 87.
Odomes became the strongest individual outcome. He started immediately as a rookie and eventually appeared in 108 regular-season games for Buffalo, starting 107. He earned two Pro Bowl selections and became a fixture at cornerback during the Bills' run of four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. For a team moving up only seven spots, landing that caliber of long-term starter is an excellent use of draft capital.
Tampa Bay's trade-down also worked. Reynolds became a regular starter in the Buccaneers' secondary, and Hall developed into a long-term tight end for the franchise. Tampa Bay's own retrospective has specifically highlighted the move as an example of trading down, still getting the player it wanted and adding another useful contributor. That makes a low grade for the Buccaneers difficult to defend.
Buffalo still gets the win because Odomes became the most accomplished player in the exchange and delivered Pro Bowl-level performance on championship-caliber teams. The margin, though, is much smaller than a simple one-star-versus-two-picks comparison would suggest. Tampa Bay multiplied its selections and hit on both. Buffalo paid a reasonable premium and landed the best player. Both teams deserve strong grades, with the Bills slightly ahead for securing the transaction's highest-impact career.