Buffalo moved from No. 43 to No. 34 in the 2007 draft and…
Buffalo moved from No. 43 to No. 34 in the 2007 draft and selected linebacker Paul Posluszny, sending Detroit picks No. 43 and No. 74. Posluszny became a full-time Bills starter whenever healthy and started 45 games across four Buffalo seasons. Detroit selected quarterback Drew Stanton at No. 43 and later used No. 74 in another trade. Stanton offered backup value, but Buffalo received the stronger direct football return from Posluszny.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2007 2nd round pick (34th overall, Paul Posluszny)
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 2007 2nd round pick (43rd overall, Drew Stanton)
- pick 2007 3rd round pick (74th overall; later included in Detroit's trade for pick 61, Gerald Alexander)
Trade Analysis
Why Buffalo Moved Up
The Bills traded picks No. 43 and No. 74 to Detroit for No. 34 in the 2007 draft and selected Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny. Buffalo wanted a high-floor interior defender who could immediately become part of the defensive core. Detroit accepted a nine-slot move down and an extra third-round selection.
What Posluszny Gave Buffalo
Posluszny became an immediate starter. Injuries interrupted portions of his Buffalo tenure, but when available he was a high-volume tackler and defensive leader. He started all 45 games he played for the Bills over four seasons and became the kind of reliable second-round linebacker Buffalo had targeted. His later Pro Bowl-level years in Jacksonville belong to a different chapter, but his Bills production alone was meaningful.
What Detroit Received
The Lions selected quarterback Drew Stanton at No. 43. Stanton spent several seasons as a backup, appeared in 12 games for Detroit and made four starts. He offered useful depth without becoming the franchise quarterback Detroit might have hoped to develop. Pick No. 74 was later included in Detroit's trade with Baltimore for No. 61, used on safety Gerald Alexander. Because Detroit also sent another choice in that move, Alexander's entire value cannot be credited to this original transaction.
Why This Trade Still Matters
Buffalo paid a reasonable premium for a player who became a multi-year starter. Detroit preserved flexibility and found some quarterback depth, but its return was less substantial.
Final Verdict
Buffalo Bills Win. Buffalo earns a B+ for Posluszny's four seasons of starting linebacker play. Detroit receives a C+ for Stanton's backup value and the additional trade currency. The Bills obtained the best direct contributor.