Atlanta received the 116th pick in the 2002 draft and used it…
Atlanta received the 116th pick in the 2002 draft and used it on guard Martin Bibla, while expansion Houston accepted a future third-rounder that became quarterback Dave Ragone at No. 88 in 2003. Neither selection produced a major NFL return: Bibla started only two games, and Ragone made two starts. Houston gained the stronger draft slot, but the on-field outcomes leave the deal essentially even.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2002 4th round pick (116th overall, Martin Bibla)
Houston Texans Received
- pick 2003 3rd round pick (88th overall, Dave Ragone )
Trade Analysis
Why Atlanta Wanted the Immediate Pick
Atlanta chose to bring draft value forward, taking Houston’s 2002 fourth-round selection rather than waiting another year. The Falcons used No. 116 on guard Martin Bibla. Offensive-line depth is a sensible use of a middle-round pick, and Bibla did reach the field in 31 NFL games. Still, he made only two starts, so the pick never became a meaningful long-term building block for Atlanta.
What Houston Gained by Waiting
The expansion Texans took the opposite approach. Houston moved the 2002 fourth-rounder and received a 2003 third-round choice, gaining a round in exchange for delaying the selection. That is attractive draft economics on paper. The future pick became No. 88 overall, which Houston used on quarterback Dave Ragone. A third-round quarterback offered developmental upside for a young franchise, but Ragone’s NFL results were slight: he appeared in two games, started both, and did not establish himself as a lasting answer.
How the Outcomes Narrowed the Gap
Houston clearly received the more valuable draft asset in abstract terms. A third-rounder is ordinarily preferable to a fourth-rounder, even with the one-year wait. Yet grading a completed trade also requires looking at what the acquired assets actually delivered. Bibla was a reserve with limited starting value, while Ragone’s opportunity at quarterback did not turn into a sustained role. Neither side captured enough player production to separate itself from the other.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Atlanta and Houston each receive a C. The Texans deserve credit for improving the round of the pick they acquired, but that advantage did not translate into lasting quarterback value. Atlanta received its player sooner and got modest reserve snaps from Bibla, but not enough impact to claim a win. The exchange ultimately produced limited returns for both clubs.