Buffalo acquired defensive tackle Earl Edwards from San…
Buffalo acquired defensive tackle Earl Edwards from San Francisco for running back Randy Jackson and a 1975 third-round pick that became tackle Jeff Hart at No. 71. Edwards immediately became a productive Bills starter and recorded 18 sacks across his first two Buffalo seasons under modern stat reconstruction. San Francisco received a future third-rounder, but the immediate player return was far less valuable.
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Earl Edwards
San Francisco 49ers Received
- player Randy Jackson
- pick 1975 3rd round pick (71st overall, Jeff Hart)
Trade Analysis
The Deal
On September 10, 1973, San Francisco traded defensive tackle Earl Edwards to Buffalo for running back Randy Jackson and a future third-round choice. The 49ers' own historical guides later identify that 1975 selection as No. 71, used on Oregon State tackle Jeff Hart, removing the uncertainty that surrounds many early-era draft-pick transactions.
Buffalo's Return
Edwards was an established interior defender, and his Buffalo production was immediate. Historical statistical reconstructions credit him with 9.5 sacks in 1973 and 8.5 more in 1974 while he remained a regular starter. He continued starting for the Bills in 1975. For a team acquiring one player, that is a substantial amount of direct value at a premium defensive position.
San Francisco's Return
The 49ers received two assets. Jackson's San Francisco stay was brief, so the draft choice became the more important part of the return. Hart was selected in the third round in 1975. The club clearly preserved future roster value, but neither Jackson nor Hart matched the impact Edwards generated for Buffalo in the seasons immediately following the trade.
Historical Clarity
This trade is especially useful because official 49ers media guides document the exact provenance of the pick. The 1984 guide states that Edwards was traded for Jackson and a No. 3 choice in 1975, while the 1975 guide labels Hart as the choice from Buffalo in the Edwards trade.
Final Verdict
Buffalo earns an A- for receiving the best established player and several seasons of starting production. San Francisco gets a C for obtaining a third-round asset without matching Edwards' realized value.
Buffalo acquired defensive tackle Earl Edwards from San Francisco for running back Randy Jackson and a 1975 third-round pick that became tackle Jeff Hart at No. 71. Edwards immediately became a productive Bills starter and recorded 18 sacks across his first two Buffalo seasons under modern stat reconstruction. San Francisco received a future third-rounder, but the immediate player return was far less valuable.