The Rams sent three late 1989 draft choices to Tampa Bay on…
The Rams sent three late 1989 draft choices to Tampa Bay on April 24, 1989 - picks No. 290, No. 302 and No. 329 - for the Buccaneers' 1990 eighth-round pick. Tampa selected Willie Griffin, Herb Duncan and Terry Young; Los Angeles later used No. 198 on Ray Savage. None became a meaningful long-term return for the acquiring club, leaving the trade essentially level.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1990 eighth round pick (#198-Ray Savage)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 1989 eleventh round pick (#290-Willie Griffin)
- pick 1989 eleventh round pick (#302-Herb Duncan)
- pick 1989 twelfth round pick (#329-Terry Young)
Trade Analysis
Why the Date and Package Matter
The transaction belongs on April 24, 1989. Tampa Bay's historical material identifies the deal as a swap of its 1990 eighth-round choice for three Los Angeles selections in the 1989 draft. Those picks were No. 290 Willie Griffin, No. 302 Herb Duncan and No. 329 Terry Young. Capturing all three choices is important because the trade cannot be judged accurately from an incomplete Tampa return.
What Los Angeles Eventually Received
The future eighth-round pick became No. 198 in the 1990 draft, and the Rams selected Ray Savage. That gave Los Angeles one later opportunity in exchange for three immediate late-round chances. Savage, however, did not produce regular-season value for the Rams. Pro Football Archives records his Rams transaction history without a regular-season NFL career, so the delayed pick did not turn into a hidden payoff.
How Tampa Bay's Three Chances Developed
Tampa's advantage was quantity, but quantity only matters if at least one selection becomes useful. Griffin, Duncan and Young did not combine to create a sustained Buccaneers return that clearly exceeded what Los Angeles received. The three late choices gave Tampa more shots, yet the realized football value remained limited. That keeps the corrected package from swinging the grade sharply toward either side.
Final Verdict
The accurate package makes the trade larger than the abbreviated version, but it does not create a winner. Los Angeles received a future pick that became Savage without meaningful Rams production. Tampa Bay received three late selections without a lasting payoff of its own. Both teams took reasonable low-cost draft chances and came away with little. C- grades for both sides and an Even Trade verdict best fit the historical outcome.