The Giants acquired kicker Lawrence Tynes from Kansas City…
The Giants acquired kicker Lawrence Tynes from Kansas City for a 2008 seventh-round pick, then received years of high-leverage value from him. Tynes kicked the overtime field goal that sent New York to Super Bowl XLII and remained with the club through another championship run. Kansas City used No. 239 on Mike Merritt, who never played an NFL game.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 2008 7th round pick (239th overall, Mike Merritt)
New York Giants Received
- player Lawrence Tynes
Trade Analysis
Why New York Wanted Tynes
The Giants needed a proven kicker and acquired Lawrence Tynes from Kansas City in May 2007. The cost was a future seventh-round selection, a sensible price for a veteran who had already handled NFL pressure. Kansas City chose to reset at the position and collect a late pick rather than keep Tynes.
What Tynes Delivered
Tynes became much more than a temporary answer. In the 2007 NFC Championship Game, he made the overtime field goal in frigid Green Bay that sent the Giants to Super Bowl XLII. New York won that championship and later won Super Bowl XLVI with Tynes still serving as its kicker. Longevity plus postseason impact turned a small acquisition into a major success.
How Kansas City Fared
The Chiefs eventually used the 239th overall selection in the 2008 draft on Mike Merritt. Merritt did not appear in a regular-season NFL game, so the direct draft return produced no comparable value. Kansas City had the right to move on from Tynes, but the resulting asset did not develop into a contributor.
Why This Trade Still Matters
Kicker trades rarely draw major attention, yet postseason games can turn on a single attempt. New York paid a low draft price for a specialist who helped decide one of the most important games in franchise history and remained useful for years. The gap between that outcome and an unused seventh-round selection is substantial.
Final Verdict
New York Giants Win. The Giants earn an A because Tynes supplied championship-era stability and an iconic overtime winner for minimal cost. Kansas City receives a D+ because the seventh-round return did not produce an NFL contributor, while the player it moved became a meaningful part of two title teams.