Washington acquired John Matuszak from Kansas City on August…
Washington acquired John Matuszak from Kansas City on August 24, 1976 for its 1977 eighth-round pick and 1978 seventh-round pick. Matuszak lasted roughly ten days in Washington and never played a regular-season game for the club before being released and joining Oakland.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- pick 1977 eighth-round pick (No. 215; Waddell Smith)
- pick 1978 seventh-round pick (No. 184; Bill Kellar)
Washington Commanders Received
- player John Matuszak
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
The August 24, 1976 transaction is well documented. Pro Sports Transactions traces Washington's 1977 eighth-round pick, No. 215, and 1978 seventh-round pick, No. 184, to the Matuszak trade. Contemporary Washington Post reporting later confirmed that the 1977 No. 8 had gone to Kansas City for Matuszak, while Chiefs and Redskins media-guide annotations identify Washington's 1978 seventh-round choice as the second asset. Kansas City selected Waddell Smith at No. 215 in 1977 and Bill Kellar at No. 184 in 1978.
Washington's Return
Matuszak never gave Washington a regular-season snap. Contemporary retrospectives describe him as lasting only about ten days or two weeks with George Allen's Redskins before being cut. He signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent and became a long-term starter and two-time Super Bowl champion there, but none of that later production belongs to Washington's side of this trade. The Redskins therefore spent two picks for no regular-season return.
Kansas City's Return
The Chiefs did not turn the picks into major NFL value. Waddell Smith was drafted at No. 215, signed, and was released before the 1977 regular season; his later two NFL games came years afterward for another club. Bill Kellar, the 1978 No. 184 selection, appeared in five games for Kansas City as a rookie. The picks were low-round assets and their direct player yield was modest, but Kansas City at least recovered two draft opportunities for a player it was prepared to move.
Final Verdict
Kansas City Chiefs Win. Washington receives a D because it surrendered two future selections and obtained no regular-season contribution before releasing Matuszak. Kansas City earns a C+ because both picks were low-round choices and produced little direct NFL value, but the Chiefs still extracted draft capital from a player who immediately washed out in Washington. The result favors Kansas City without overstating the quality of the return.