New England Patriots received 1989 fourth round pick…
New England Patriots received 1989 fourth round pick (#96-Maurice Hurst (Sr.) (Roy)). New England received the 1989 fourth-round choice used on Maurice Hurst. Hurst became a seven-year Patriots defensive back, appeared in 105 games, and intercepted 27 passes. That sustained production from a mid-round asset created the dominant return in the transaction and comfortably outweighs the value Washington obtained from the 1988 fifth-round selection it received. That result supports a A- grade for New England Patriots.
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1989 fourth round pick (#96- Maurice Hurst (Sr.) (Roy))
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 1988 fifth round pick (#127-Carl Mims)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1988-04-24, New England Patriots received 1989 fourth round pick (#96-Maurice Hurst (Sr.) (Roy)), while Washington Commanders received 1988 fifth round pick (#127-Carl Mims). Historical team, transaction, draft, and player records support the package. The comparison focuses on the value each franchise actually controlled and the regular-season contribution created after the exchange.
New England Patriots Return
New England Patriots received 1989 fourth round pick (#96-Maurice Hurst (Sr.) (Roy)). New England received the 1989 fourth-round choice used on Maurice Hurst. Hurst became a seven-year Patriots defensive back, appeared in 105 games, and intercepted 27 passes. That sustained production from a mid-round asset created the dominant return in the transaction and comfortably outweighs the value Washington obtained from the 1988 fifth-round selection it received. That result supports a A- grade for New England Patriots. The grade reflects the scale and durability of that return rather than simply the draft position or reputation attached to the asset at the moment of the trade.
Washington Commanders Return
Washington Commanders received 1988 fifth round pick (#127-Carl Mims). Washington received the 1988 fifth-round choice used on Carl Mims. Mims did not appear in an NFL regular-season game, so Washington realized no meaningful on-field return from the selection. The club exchanged a future fourth-round asset that became a long-term New England starter, making Washington's side clearly weaker in hindsight. That result supports a D grade for Washington Commanders. The same standard applies here: direct playing time, retained draft capital, and clearly documented later movement of an acquired pick matter more than a player selected by a different franchise later in the chain.
Value in Hindsight
New England's historical historical records confirms that it sent the 1988 fifth-round choice used on Carl Mims to Washington for the 1989 fourth-round choice used on Maurice Hurst. Mims never played an NFL regular-season game, while Hurst became a seven-year Patriots defensive back who appeared in 105 games and intercepted 27 passes. That extreme realized-value difference makes New England the clear winner. This hindsight view keeps later pick movement in context and avoids assigning another club's eventual player production to a team that had already moved the selection.
Final Verdict
The final call is New England Patriots Win. New England Patriots earns A-, and Washington Commanders earns D. Those grades match the supported package and the relative football value each side realized from the transaction.