Detroit's supported return was Bob McKay, but the tackle was…
Detroit's supported return was Bob McKay, but the tackle was sent back to New England roughly one month later. That brief stay did not create enough durable Lions value to separate the trade. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.
Detroit Lions Received
- player Bob McKay
New England Patriots Received
- player Jim Mitchell
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
New England's historical transaction log lists the August 14, 1978 move as Bob McKay to Detroit for defensive end Jim Mitchell. It also records McKay returning from Detroit to New England on September 13 for a 1979 twelfth-round pick. Some surviving Detroit material states the first exchange in the opposite direction, creating a genuine historical-source variance. The Patriots chronology and the documented September reacquisition support retaining the package as listed here.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit's supported return was Bob McKay, but the tackle was sent back to New England roughly one month later. That brief stay did not create enough durable Lions value to separate the trade. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.
Boston/New England Patriots Return
New England received veteran defensive lineman Jim Mitchell, but surviving career records do not show a meaningful Patriots playing tenure after the exchange. The return was minimal. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.
Value in Hindsight
The most important conclusion is not to manufacture separation where the surviving evidence shows almost none. Detroit's acquired tackle was back in New England within a month, while Mitchell did not provide a later NFL season. The source-direction conflict also argues against an aggressive grade spread.
Final Verdict
This is an even trade. Detroit and New England both receive C grades because the original exchange generated little durable value for either team. The transaction history is worth preserving, but its football impact was minimal and the surviving source variance warrants medium confidence.