Atlanta moved Greg Paterra to Detroit in August 1990 for a…

The Exchange

Atlanta sent Greg Paterra to Detroit in August 1990 for a future draft choice. The pick was ultimately identified as the 1991 tenth-round No. 258 selection, which Atlanta used on Pete Lucas. Some historical transaction sources place the move one day later, but the underlying player-for-pick exchange and the identity of the draft choice are consistent enough to evaluate the football result without changing the frozen transaction date. Atlanta Falcons Return Atlanta converted Paterra into a late-round selection rather than carrying him forward on the roster. No. 258 became Pete Lucas, giving the Falcons a concrete draft asset from the deal. The problem in hindsight is that such a late choice needed to produce an unusually strong player to create separation, and Lucas did not become a meaningful long-term NFL contributor. Atlanta therefore gained flexibility but little realized value. Detroit Lions Return Detroit received Paterra as an immediate roster option. His time with the Lions was brief, so the club did not extract the kind of sustained contribution that would justify a strong winning grade. Still, Detroit did acquire an NFL player for a very low-cost future choice, and the pick Atlanta received did not become a difference-maker. That keeps the Lions from looking materially worse in the exchange. Value in Hindsight The transaction was small at the time and remained small after the careers played out. Atlanta's draft choice did not develop into a notable return, while Paterra did not establish a long Detroit tenure. Neither side created a meaningful surplus of value, and there is no downstream result strong enough to force the trade toward one club. Final Verdict Atlanta and Detroit each receive a C. The Falcons obtained a legitimate future pick, and the Lions obtained a player for a modest cost, but neither return became important enough to separate the teams. The best hindsight classification is an Even Trade.