Buffalo Bills received 2019 5th round pick (158th overall…
Buffalo Bills received 2019 5th round pick (158th overall subsequently traded, Michael Jackson) in the deal with Las Vegas Raiders. The Bills retained a meaningful fifth-round asset that remained useful in later draft movement. Turning a reserve quarterback into that level of draft capital created a strong return. That outcome supports a B+ for Buffalo Bills. The Buffalo Bills Win verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2019 5th round pick (158th overall subsequently traded, Michael Jackson )
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- player A.J. McCarron
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 2018-09-02, Buffalo traded quarterback A.J. McCarron to the Raiders for a 2019 fifth-round choice. The result is best measured through the service each club actually received afterward, including games, starts, production and draft value that can be connected directly to the exchanged assets. That approach keeps a smaller transaction proportional to what it ultimately produced. Buffalo Bills Return The Bills retained a meaningful fifth-round asset that remained useful in later draft movement. Turning a reserve quarterback into that level of draft capital created a strong return. The B+ grade reflects that outcome against the price Buffalo Bills surrendered. Longer tenure, starting work and productive downstream draft use raise the return, while brief service or little direct contribution keeps the grade lower. Las Vegas Raiders Return McCarron appeared in only two Raiders games, did not start, and completed one pass for eight yards before leaving after the season. Oakland received almost no direct quarterback contribution. The D grade applies the same standard to Las Vegas Raiders. The focus stays on value tied to this transaction rather than later accomplishments that cannot be connected confidently to the assets exchanged here. Value in Hindsight This deal separates sharply because one side retained useful draft value and the other received almost no playing time. The cost was modest, but Buffalo clearly realized more from the transaction. The comparison remains centered on duration, starts, production and useful draft outcomes. A modest trade does not need a dramatic grade spread unless the documented returns clearly moved in opposite directions. Final Verdict The final call is Buffalo Bills Win. Buffalo Bills receives B+, and Las Vegas Raiders receives D. The decision follows the contribution each side received and the downstream value that remained connected to the original package. Those grades keep the result grounded in realized football value and appropriately scaled to the size of the deal.