Detroit Lions received Brian Goodman from Los Angeles Rams in…
Detroit Lions received Brian Goodman from Los Angeles Rams in the 1973-07-21 trade. Detroit acquired Brian Goodman, but Pro Football Archives shows the Lions released him before the 1973 regular season, so Detroit realized no regular-season contribution. Los Angeles Rams's return was 1974 ninth round pick (#221-Derek Williams). Los Angeles received the 1974 ninth-round pick and used it on Derek Williams, making the draft choice the Rams' realized return. Those realized outcomes, rather than the labels on the assets alone, drive the hindsight grade.
Detroit Lions Received
- player Brian Goodman
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 1974 ninth round pick (#221-Derek Williams)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1973-07-21, Detroit Lions received Brian Goodman, while Los Angeles Rams received 1974 ninth round pick (#221-Derek Williams). Hindsight turns on what those assets actually produced for the acquiring clubs, not on the abstract value of a player name or draft slot.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit acquired Brian Goodman, but Pro Football Archives shows the Lions released him before the 1973 regular season, so Detroit realized no regular-season contribution. That result is the basis for Detroit Lions's B- grade. Production created for another franchise is not credited back to Detroit Lions, and a pick later moved again is valued through the transaction Detroit Lions actually made with it. The goal is to isolate the football value that stayed with the acquiring team.
Los Angeles Rams Return
Los Angeles received the 1974 ninth-round pick and used it on Derek Williams, making the draft choice the Rams' realized return. That supports Los Angeles Rams's B- grade. A condition that never triggered, a player who never appeared, or a pick sent elsewhere is treated differently from a contributor who actually played for Los Angeles Rams. The grade follows the realized outcome rather than the nominal size of the asset.
Value in Hindsight
The comparison is therefore specific to this exchange. Detroit Lions's result came from Brian Goodman; Los Angeles Rams's came from 1974 ninth round pick (#221-Derek Williams). The chain stops when an asset leaves the club, unless the club received another identifiable asset in that downstream move. That prevents the evaluation from assigning a later player's career to the wrong franchise.
Final Verdict
The supported grades are Detroit Lions B- and Los Angeles Rams B-, producing Even Trade. Detroit acquired Brian Goodman but released him before the 1973 regular season. Los Angeles received the 1974 ninth-round pick and used it on Derek Williams. Those limited realized outcomes support the equal B-minus grades.