New England moved up to No. 85 in the 2017 draft for tackle…
New England moved up to No. 85 in the 2017 draft for tackle Antonio Garcia, sending Detroit picks No. 96 and No. 124. Garcia never appeared in a game for the Patriots. Detroit used the selections on Kenny Golladay and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. Golladay became a Pro Bowl receiver and led the NFL with 11 receiving touchdowns in 2019, while Reeves-Maybin developed into a long-tenured special-teams standout.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 2017 3rd round pick (96th overall, Kenny Golladay )
- pick 2017 4th round pick (124th overall, Jalen Reeves-Maybin )
New England Patriots Received
- pick 2017 3rd round pick (85th overall, Antonio Garcia)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
New England traded picks No. 96 and No. 124 to Detroit to move up to No. 85 in the 2017 draft. The Patriots selected offensive tackle Antonio Garcia. Detroit used No. 96 on receiver Kenny Golladay and No. 124 on linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin. The Patriots were targeting a potential long-term tackle; the Lions accepted the move down and added an extra fourth-round selection.
Why Detroit Won Decisively
Golladay alone would have tilted the trade. He developed into Detroit's top outside receiver, posted consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and led the NFL with 11 receiving touchdowns in 2019, earning a Pro Bowl selection. Reeves-Maybin gave the Lions a second durable return. He became a core special-teams player, later returned to Detroit after a year away and earned both Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro recognition for his special-teams work. Two picks became two players with significant team-specific value.
How New England's Gamble Failed
Garcia never appeared in a regular-season game for the Patriots. He spent his rookie season on the non-football illness list and was waived the following spring. That left New England with no on-field return from the player it specifically traded up to acquire. The process of targeting a premium-position tackle was understandable, but results drive the hindsight grade, and this one produced none for the Patriots.
Final Verdict
Detroit earns an A+ and New England an F. The Lions converted the trade-down into a Pro Bowl receiver and a long-serving special-teams standout, while the Patriots received zero game action from Garcia. There is no need for complicated downstream attribution here: the two direct Detroit selections dramatically outperformed the one New England selection. Detroit Lions Win.