Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles completed this…
Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles completed this exchange on 1994-04-24. Philadelphia moved from No. Because Atlanta added another valuable first-round pick to complete the Doleman trade, No. The stronger overall return belongs to Atlanta Falcons. The grades reflect direct team value plus clearly traceable use of any acquired pick that was later traded.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1994 2nd round pick (40th overall subsequently traded, David Palmer )
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 1994 2nd round pick (37th overall, Bruce Walker)
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
Philadelphia moved from No. 40 to No. 37 in the 1994 second round, sending the lower selection to Atlanta. The Eagles selected defensive tackle Bruce Walker. Atlanta did not use No. 40 itself; the Falcons immediately included that pick with a 1995 first-rounder in the separate deal that brought Chris Doleman and No. 45 from Minnesota.
What Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles Received
Walker never played a regular-season game for Philadelphia and finished with only 11 NFL games, all for New England. Atlanta's acquired No. 40 therefore became useful transaction capital rather than a direct selection. In the Minnesota exchange, that pick helped the Falcons obtain Doleman and the No. 45 choice used on Bert Emanuel, two players who gave Atlanta substantial veteran and receiving production.
How the Value Developed
Because Atlanta added another valuable first-round pick to complete the Doleman trade, No. 40 cannot be treated as if it purchased the entire return by itself. Even with that limitation, the asset clearly retained meaningful value for the Falcons and helped facilitate a productive move. Philadelphia's three-spot jump, by contrast, produced a player who never appeared for the Eagles, creating a clear difference in realized team value.
Final Verdict
Atlanta Falcons Win. Atlanta Falcons receives a B+ and Philadelphia Eagles receives a D+. The result weighs only value tied to the assets each club actually controlled, including a later transaction when the acquired pick itself was moved. That keeps the comparison centered on team-specific football contribution rather than assigning another franchise's eventual selection to the wrong side.