Los Angeles Rams received 1986 eighth round pick (#195-Steve…

The Exchange

On 1985-08-02, Tampa Bay acquired defensive back Ivory Sully from the Rams for a 1986 eighth-round choice. The result is best measured through the service each club actually received afterward, including games, starts, production and draft value that can be connected directly to the exchanged assets. That approach keeps a smaller transaction proportional to what it ultimately produced. Los Angeles Rams Return Los Angeles used the eighth-round selection on Steve Jarecki, who did not provide comparable NFL value. The Rams recovered draft capital, but the selected player's direct return was limited. The D grade reflects that outcome against the price Los Angeles Rams surrendered. Longer tenure, starting work and productive downstream draft use raise the return, while brief service or little direct contribution keeps the grade lower. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return Sully played 32 Buccaneers games with 25 starts across 1985 and 1986 and recorded an interception. Tampa Bay received two seasons of substantial starting defensive-back service. The A- grade applies the same standard to Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The focus stays on value tied to this transaction rather than later accomplishments that cannot be connected confidently to the assets exchanged here. Value in Hindsight The Buccaneers obtained 25 starts for the cost of an eighth-round pick, an excellent return at this transaction size. Los Angeles did not turn its pick into a contributor capable of matching that value. The comparison remains centered on duration, starts, production and useful draft outcomes. A modest trade does not need a dramatic grade spread unless the documented returns clearly moved in opposite directions. Final Verdict The final call is Tampa Bay Buccaneers Win. Los Angeles Rams receives D, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers receives A-. The decision follows the contribution each side received and the downstream value that remained connected to the original package. Those grades keep the result grounded in realized football value and appropriately scaled to the size of the deal.