The 1992 Brett Favre Trade: Green Bay Spent the No. 17 Pick on an Unknown Backup and Changed the Franchise
Ron Wolf sent Atlanta the 17th overall pick for Brett Favre after Favre had thrown only five NFL passes. The gamble produced three MVPs and a championship era.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1992 first round pick (#17-Kevin Smith (Rey))
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Brett Favre
Trade Summary
Green Bay's trade for Brett Favre became one of the greatest quarterback acquisitions in NFL history. The Packers gave up a first-round pick for an uncertain young passer, then watched him become a franchise icon, MVP, Super Bowl winner, and the face of a new era. Atlanta received value, but Green Bay received a legend. The trade changed the Packers' trajectory and became one of the best quarterback acquisitions in league history.
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Green Bay acquired Brett Favre from Atlanta in February 1992 for the Packers' first-round pick, No. 17 overall. Atlanta used the selection on running back Tony Smith. Favre had been a second-round pick only one year earlier and had attempted just five regular-season passes for the Falcons.
Why Ron Wolf Made the Bet
Packers general manager Ron Wolf had evaluated Favre before the 1991 draft and remained convinced that the quarterback's arm talent, competitiveness and upside were worth first-round value. That conviction mattered because the available NFL evidence was minimal and mostly negative. Green Bay was paying a premium based on projection rather than production.
The trade also survived a medical scare. Packers doctors had concerns about Favre's hip, but Wolf pushed forward. It became one of the most consequential personnel decisions in franchise history.
What Green Bay Received
Favre became the Packers' long-term starting quarterback, won three consecutive league MVP awards, led Green Bay to two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XXXI. His arrival helped restore a franchise that had spent much of the previous two decades outside sustained contention.
The value went beyond individual honors. Quarterback stability allowed Green Bay to build a consistent competitive identity and reestablished the Packers as a national contender.
What Atlanta Received
A first-round pick was a strong return for a backup quarterback who had barely played. The process was defensible if Atlanta did not believe Favre would develop. But Smith never became a comparable impact player, and the Falcons watched the outgoing quarterback develop into a Hall of Famer.
Why This Is a Scouting Trade
Unlike many famous quarterback deals, Green Bay was not buying an established star. The Packers were betting that their evaluation was better than the market's and were willing to spend first-round capital to prove it.
Final Verdict
Green Bay wins overwhelmingly. Atlanta received a fair theoretical price for an unproven player, but the Packers acquired a Hall of Fame quarterback, three-time MVP and Super Bowl champion for one first-round selection. Few trades have created more franchise value from a single personnel conviction.