Miami Dolphins received quarterback George Wilson Jr. from…
Miami Dolphins received quarterback George Wilson Jr. from Buffalo Bills for the 1967 13th round pick that became No. 318 Howard Finley. Wilson played all 14 games for expansion Miami in 1966, started seven at quarterback, threw for 764 yards and five touchdowns, and also handled 42 punts. Finley never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Miami received meaningful inaugural-season value, supporting a Miami Dolphins Win.
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 1967 13th round pick (#318-Howard Finley)
Miami Dolphins Received
- player George Wilson Jr .
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Miami acquired quarterback George Wilson Jr. from Buffalo on July 3, 1966 for a 13th-round selection in the 1967 common draft. Miami's own draft material states that the 13th-round choice went to Buffalo for Wilson, and the draft transaction trail identifies the selection as No. 318 Howard Finley. The exchange gave the expansion Dolphins an experienced quarterback option while Buffalo received a very late future pick.
What Miami Dolphins Got
Wilson immediately filled multiple roles during Miami's inaugural season. He appeared in all 14 games, started seven at quarterback and finished 2-5 as the starter. He completed 46 of 112 passes for 764 yards and five touchdowns, rushed for 137 yards, and also punted 42 times for 1,772 yards. Those numbers were modest, but they represent substantial practical value for a first-year roster trying to navigate an entire AFL season.
What Buffalo Bills Got
Buffalo used the acquired 13th-round choice on Tennessee State defensive back Howard Finley at No. 318. Pro Football Reference's 1967 Bills draft record shows no NFL games for Finley. As a late-round selection, the pick carried limited expected value, but it still failed to produce a regular-season contributor. Buffalo therefore received no realized NFL playing value from the asset obtained for Wilson.
Final Verdict
Miami Dolphins Win is the appropriate hindsight verdict. Wilson was not a long-term franchise quarterback, yet he gave the expansion Dolphins seven starts, 764 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and extensive punting work in 1966. Buffalo's acquired selection produced no NFL games. A B- for Miami and D+ for Buffalo keeps the scale sensible: Miami did not acquire a star, but it turned a 13th-round future pick into useful inaugural-season quarterback and special-teams production, while Buffalo's return never reached the field.