Buffalo acquired Lou Piccone from the Jets for a 1978…
Buffalo acquired Lou Piccone from the Jets for a 1978 ninth-round pick that became No. 225 and Reggie Grant. Piccone stayed with the Bills for multiple seasons and contributed as a receiver and returner, while the Jets did not receive comparable value from the late selection. Buffalo therefore gained the stronger and more durable football return from the exchange.
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Lou Piccone
New York Jets Received
- pick 1978 ninth round pick (#225-Reggie Grant)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Buffalo acquired Lou Piccone from the Jets in exchange for a 1978 ninth-round draft choice. The transaction ledger identifies that pick as No. 225, later used on Reggie Grant. That creates a clean veteran-for-pick comparison: Buffalo received a player who could contribute immediately, while New York received a late draft asset with a chance to create future value.
Buffalo Bills Return
Piccone gave Buffalo the more durable side of the trade. He remained with the Bills for multiple seasons and contributed both as a receiver and in the return game. That kind of multi-role service is especially valuable when the acquisition cost is only a ninth-round selection. Buffalo did not acquire a star, but it did get repeated, identifiable use from the player it added.
New York Jets Return
The Jets received pick No. 225 and used it on Reggie Grant. A ninth-round choice offered low-cost upside, but the selection did not produce value comparable to Piccone's Buffalo tenure. The Jets had the right to prefer a future asset if they were prepared to move the player, yet hindsight shows that the pick did not replace the practical contribution they gave up.
Value in Hindsight
This is a clearer gap than many late-round veteran trades because Buffalo can point to multiple seasons of receiving and return value. New York can point only to a late selection that did not create a comparable payoff. The low original cost keeps the trade from being disastrous for the Jets, but Buffalo maximized the inexpensive acquisition and received the more useful football asset.
Final Verdict
Buffalo earns a B- and the win. The Jets receive a D+ because the ninth-round return did not approach Piccone's multi-season contribution for the Bills. The trade was small in capital terms, but Buffalo turned that small cost into the clearly better realized value.