Buffalo acquired wide receiver Emmett Edwards from Houston…
Buffalo acquired wide receiver Emmett Edwards from Houston during the 1976 season. Edwards caught two passes for 53 yards for the Bills, so the immediate return was small. The third-round choice sent to Houston became Rob Carpenter, a productive NFL runner, making Buffalo's brief receiving help expensive in hindsight.
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Emmett Edwards
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick 1977 third round pick (#84-Rob Carpenter (Joseph))
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Buffalo acquired Emmett Edwards from Houston on September 29, 1976, with a 1977 third-round draft choice going to the Oilers. Houston's historical draft material and later transaction records connect that choice to running back Rob Carpenter at No. 84. That creates a straightforward comparison between a short Bills receiving stint and a substantial Oilers draft return.
What Buffalo Received
Edwards gave Buffalo another receiving option, but the statistical return was extremely limited. The Bills' 1976 team totals credit him with two receptions for 53 yards. He did not become a long-term part of Buffalo's offense, so the club received little lasting benefit from spending future third-round capital during a difficult season.
What Houston Received
The Oilers used the acquired choice on Carpenter, who immediately became a useful professional runner. Pro Football Reference credits him with 652 rushing yards as a Houston rookie in 1977, and his NFL career eventually surpassed 4,300 rushing yards. Even though much of his later production came elsewhere, Houston still obtained a legitimate starting-caliber asset with Buffalo's pick.
Why the Value Landed Here
The draft choice carried far more realized value than Edwards' brief Buffalo contribution. Houston deserves credit for turning a movable veteran into a third-round selection and then using that selection on a player who produced immediately. Buffalo, by contrast, paid meaningful draft capital for a receiver who barely affected the offense.
Final Verdict
Houston receives an A- and Buffalo receives a D+. The Oilers acquired and successfully used the premium asset in the deal, while the Bills obtained only two catches and no sustained return. Houston therefore wins the trade comfortably.