Atlanta moved defensive back Dennis Woodberry to Green Bay in…
Atlanta moved defensive back Dennis Woodberry to Green Bay in August 1987 and received cash in return. Woodberry did not become a regular-season contributor for the Packers after the deal, leaving Green Bay without meaningful on-field value from the acquisition. Atlanta at least converted a player it was willing to move into immediate consideration, giving the Falcons a modest hindsight edge.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- other cash
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Dennis Woodberry
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Atlanta sent defensive back Dennis Woodberry to Green Bay on August 25, 1987 and received cash. The transaction was small in scale: Green Bay was taking a chance on a player who could compete for a roster role, while Atlanta converted a player it was prepared to move into immediate consideration. Nothing in the deal required projecting a future draft outcome or attaching later assets to the exchange.
Atlanta Falcons Return
Cash is difficult to compare directly with player production, but the important hindsight point is that Atlanta received something certain for a player who did not go on to create regular-season value for the acquiring club. The Falcons avoided carrying the roster spot and still realized a tangible return. That does not make the deal especially valuable, but it gives Atlanta the cleaner outcome in a minor transaction.
Green Bay Packers Return
Green Bay received Woodberry and the possibility that a change of team could unlock useful secondary depth. The opportunity was inexpensive, which limits the downside. In hindsight, though, Woodberry did not establish a regular-season contribution for the Packers. With no durable playing value to offset the cash sent out, Green Bay's side of the exchange came up short.
Value in Hindsight
This is not a trade where either side materially changed its roster trajectory. The distinction is simply that Atlanta converted an expendable player into immediate consideration, while Green Bay's player acquisition did not produce a lasting return. The gap should therefore remain modest rather than being inflated by the absence of statistics.
Final Verdict
Atlanta earns a B- and Green Bay a C-. The Falcons win narrowly because they received certain value and the Packers did not receive meaningful regular-season production from Woodberry. The transaction remains minor, but hindsight favors Atlanta.