Boston/New England Patriots received Don Trull from Houston…
Boston/New England Patriots received Don Trull from Houston Oilers, giving up 1968 ninth round pick (#224-Bob Robertson). New England acquired Don Trull as an immediate quarterback option. The move added depth, but the available record does not show enough lasting impact to push the Patriots above a C on this transaction. That return supports a C grade for Boston/New England Patriots. The final verdict is Tennessee Titans Win.
New England Patriots Received
- player Don Trull
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1968 ninth round pick (#224-Bob Robertson)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Houston sent quarterback Don Trull to New England in October 1967, and the return is tied to the 1968 ninth-round choice used on Bob Robertson. Multiple player and draft histories support both the movement and the future-pick connection. The useful hindsight question is therefore narrow: what value did each club receive from the documented assets, and how much weight should be placed on the parts of the return that can be followed with confidence?
Boston/New England Patriots Return
New England acquired Don Trull as an immediate quarterback option. The move added depth, but the available record does not show enough lasting impact to push the Patriots above a C on this transaction. The grade stays proportional to the size of the deal. This was not a transaction that should be inflated by unrelated later roster moves, so the evaluation centers on the player service or draft value that flowed directly from the exchange.
Houston Oilers Return
Houston received a future ninth-round choice that became No. 224 Bob Robertson. That identifiable draft return gives the Oilers a slightly cleaner long-term asset trail and supports the narrow C+ edge. The same standard applies on this side: credit only what can reasonably be tied to the incoming assets, and do not manufacture extra value from an uncertain downstream path. That keeps the comparison grounded in the actual exchange rather than in broader team history.
Value in Hindsight
This was a relatively modest transaction, so the grade spread should reflect the scale of the assets. Veteran-for-veteran swaps, late-round choices, and cash considerations can matter without becoming franchise-changing events. When a later pick identity is known, it helps clarify the result; when one detail remains uncertain, the judgment should stop at the strongest supported description instead of pretending the record is more precise than it is.
Final Verdict
The final call is Tennessee Titans Win. Boston/New England Patriots receives C, while Houston Oilers receives C+. Those grades reflect the direct football value of the package and the quality of the traceable outcome. Where the returns are close, the marks stay close; where one side clearly turned its asset into more useful value, the separation is larger without overstating the importance of a smaller trade.