Buffalo and New England exchanged late-round draft capital…
Buffalo and New England exchanged late-round draft capital during the 1990 draft. The Bills received seventh-round selections No. 166 and No. 170, used on Brent Griffith and Brent Collins. New England received twelfth-rounder No. 322, Blaine Rose, plus a 1991 fourth-round pick that became No. 110. Neither side created a major direct player payoff, leaving the deal essentially even.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1990 seventh round pick (#166-Brent Griffith)
- pick 1990 seventh round pick (#170-Brent Collins)
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1990 twelfth round pick (#322-Blaine Rose)
- pick 1991 fourth round pick (#110-Kevin Harris)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
This was a late-round draft maneuver rather than a franchise-altering gamble. Buffalo wanted two seventh-round chances in the 1990 draft, while New England accepted a much later 1990 selection and a future fourth-round choice. The Bills received picks No. 166 and No. 170. The Patriots received pick No. 322 and Buffalo's 1991 fourth-round selection, which landed at No. 110.
What Buffalo and New England Received
Buffalo used No. 166 on guard Brent Griffith and No. 170 on linebacker Brent Collins. New England used No. 322 on Blaine Rose and controlled the 1991 fourth-round pick that became No. 110, Kevin Harris. The future choice later helped New England move from No. 17 to No. 14 in a separate first-round deal with Dallas, so its value extended beyond the player name attached to the slot.
How the Value Developed
None of the directly selected players became a major long-term NFL difference-maker for the club that held the pick at the moment of selection. Buffalo's two seventh-round swings provided depth possibilities but no defining payoff. Rose did not become a regular-season contributor for New England. The Patriots at least retained useful flexibility through the future fourth-rounder, but that secondary benefit was not large enough to create a clear winner here.
Final Verdict
The transaction delivered exactly the kind of modest outcomes common to late-round pick exchanges. Buffalo gained two shots in the seventh round; New England pushed part of the value into the future and later used that choice as trade-up currency. Neither side produced enough direct, lasting football value to separate meaningfully from the other. Both teams receive C grades, and Even Trade is the most supportable verdict.