Tampa Bay acquired running back Jeff Smith from Kansas City…
Tampa Bay acquired running back Jeff Smith from Kansas City on September 3, 1987, for an eighth-round pick in the 1988 draft. Smith gave the Buccaneers two seasons of offensive depth, including 309 rushing yards and four total touchdowns in 1987. Kansas City retained value through the future pick, which later became part of the Steve DeBerg trade. Both clubs turned a modest asset into something useful.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 1988 eighth round pick (#198-Anthony Simpson)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Jeff Smith (Keith)
Trade Analysis
Why Tampa Bay Made the Deal
The Buccaneers wanted backfield help before the 1987 season and acquired Jeff Smith for a future eighth-round selection. The price was modest: Tampa exchanged a late 1988 pick for a player who could contribute immediately. Kansas City, meanwhile, converted a player it was willing to move into future draft capital.
What Tampa Bay Received
Smith appeared in 12 games for Tampa Bay in 1987, started eight and rushed for 309 yards. He also contributed as a receiver and scored four total touchdowns that season. His role declined in 1988, but the Buccaneers still received two seasons of usable depth from an asset that cost them only a late-round pick.
What Kansas City Received
The Chiefs acquired the 1988 eighth-round choice that ultimately sat at No. 198. Kansas City did not simply use that selection on a rookie. The pick later became part of the compensation in the Steve DeBerg transaction, allowing the Chiefs to keep converting a low-cost asset into another roster move. That downstream use matters because it shows the pick retained practical value.
How the Value Settled
Neither side created a major surplus. Tampa Bay got immediate production from a veteran back but no long-term starter. Kansas City got a late choice that remained useful as trade currency, but an eighth-rounder alone was never a premium return. The modest cost and modest payoff fit each other closely.
Final Verdict
This is an Even Trade, with B- grades for both teams. Tampa Bay received tangible short-term help from Smith, and Kansas City preserved value through the future pick. Neither side found a star, but both extracted reasonable utility from a small transaction without paying a meaningful premium.