Buffalo Bills received 1989 seventh round pick (#173-Brian…
Buffalo Bills received 1989 seventh round pick (#173-Brian Jordan) in the 1988-06-13 exchange with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving up Eugene Marve. Buffalo converted Eugene Marve into a 1989 seventh-round selection, No. 173, used on Brian Jordan. That return supports a C grade for Buffalo Bills. The final verdict is Even Trade, based on the football value tied directly to the assets in this deal.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1989 seventh round pick (#173-Brian Jordan)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Eugene Marve
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1988-06-13, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed a deal in which Buffalo Bills received 1989 seventh round pick (#173-Brian Jordan), while Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Eugene Marve. Multiple historical records agree on the player movement, counterparties, and material consideration. That makes the useful hindsight question straightforward: what football value did each club actually receive from the assets attached to this exchange?
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo converted Eugene Marve into a 1989 seventh-round selection, No. 173, used on Brian Jordan. The return is best judged at the scale of the transaction itself. For Buffalo Bills, the important point is whether the incoming asset produced usable service or preserved meaningful draft value. Nothing in the documented outcome justifies stretching the grade beyond what the actual return supports, so C is an appropriate mark.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return
Tampa Bay acquired Eugene Marve, a veteran linebacker, for a late-round future choice. That result defines the other side of the comparison. For Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the grade should reflect the contribution or draft value that followed from this specific deal, without crediting unrelated roster moves or later transactions. On that basis, C fits the value Tampa Bay Buccaneers ultimately realized.
Value in Hindsight
Neither return created a large, durable football advantage, so the realized value stays close enough to treat the deal as balanced. Because this was not a franchise-changing exchange, the grade spread should remain proportional to the evidence. Late-round picks, short veteran stints, failed physicals, and nominal cash returns can still matter, but they should not be treated like premium assets. The comparison therefore emphasizes actual service, identifiable draft outcomes, and the direct consequences of the deal.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. Buffalo Bills receives C, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers receives C. That verdict matches the documented outcome and keeps the judgment tied to the exchange itself. Where the realized returns were close, the grades stay close; where one side obtained clearly more useful football value, the grade separation reflects that advantage without overstating a relatively small transaction.