Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles completed this trade on…
Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles completed this trade on 1971-01-28. Barton did not establish himself as Philadelphia's answer at quarterback and soon left the NFL for Canada. Detroit captured three premium or useful draft assets from a player who delivered almost no Eagles regular-season value. The post-trade results provide the clearest measure of what each club gained from the exchange. The historical return supports a Detroit Lions Win verdict, with Detroit Lions graded A- and Philadelphia Eagles graded D+.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1971 second round pick (possibly #30-Dave Thompson)
- pick 1972 second round pick (#40-Pat Sullivan)
- pick 1972 third round pick (#65-Ken Sanders)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- player Greg Barton
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Detroit sent quarterback Greg Barton to Philadelphia for the Eagles' 1971 second-round selection plus 1972 second- and third-round choices. Detroit's own historical accounting supports the three-pick return. The original transaction matters because later pick movement can blur what each club actually received. This version keeps the identified assets attached to the correct side.
What Detroit Lions Received
Detroit Lions came away with 1971 second round pick (possibly #30-Dave Thompson), 1972 second round pick (#40-Pat Sullivan), 1972 third round pick (#65-Ken Sanders). Barton did not establish himself as Philadelphia's answer at quarterback and soon left the NFL for Canada. Detroit captured three premium or useful draft assets from a player who delivered almost no Eagles regular-season value. The grade reflects both the quality of that return and how directly it benefited the franchise.
What Philadelphia Eagles Received
Philadelphia Eagles received Greg Barton. The comparison is not based only on the apparent value of the package on trade day. It weighs what those assets became, how long the player contribution lasted, whether a draft choice produced usable service, and whether either side quickly moved on without meaningful return.
How the Value Aged
Barton did not establish himself as Philadelphia's answer at quarterback and soon left the NFL for Canada. Detroit captured three premium or useful draft assets from a player who delivered almost no Eagles regular-season value. That is the key separator in the hindsight grade. The transaction can still have made sense for both clubs at the time, especially when veterans, roster needs and future choices were valued differently than they are today. The verdict instead measures the football value each franchise ultimately captured from the assets received in this specific exchange.
Final Verdict
The best hindsight result is Detroit Lions Win. Detroit Lions earns a A- and Philadelphia Eagles earns a D+. Moves from Even to a decisive Detroit win based on the three-pick haul and Barton’s negligible Eagles return. The grade spread stays proportional to the actual impact: a clear but modest advantage remains modest, while a long-term starter or star compared with little return creates a wider separation.