Kansas City acquired veteran running back MacArthur Lane for…
Kansas City acquired veteran running back MacArthur Lane for a 1976 third-round pick and received four seasons, highlighted by a huge 1976 campaign with 1,228 yards from scrimmage and a league-leading 66 receptions. Green Bay used No. 72 on defensive back Mike McCoy, who became a seven-year full-time starter for the Packers. Both clubs won meaningful value, but McCoy's 97 starts give Green Bay the edge.
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 1976 third round pick (#72-Mike McCoy (C.))
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- player MacArthur Lane
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Green Bay sent veteran running back MacArthur Lane to Kansas City in July 1975 for a third-round choice in the 1976 draft. The Packers used the acquired No. 72 selection on Colorado defensive back Mike McCoy. Unlike many veteran-for-pick deals, this one produced substantial value on both sides.
What Kansas City Received
Lane gave the Chiefs immediate offensive usefulness. In 1975 he rushed for 311 yards and caught 25 passes for 202 yards in nine games. His 1976 season was the centerpiece: 542 rushing yards, 686 receiving yards, and a league-leading 66 receptions. He remained with Kansas City through 1978. For one third-round pick, the Chiefs received a veteran who still had a major all-purpose season left.
What Green Bay Received
McCoy became a much longer-term solution. After one start as a rookie, he started every game from 1977 through 1981, remained a starter through 1983, and finished his Packers career with 97 starts in 110 games. He intercepted 13 passes and provided seven seasons of near-continuous starting work after his rookie year. That is excellent realized value from a third-round selection.
Why Green Bay Gets the Edge
Kansas City should not be penalized heavily for this trade; Lane justified the acquisition with his 1976 production alone. Green Bay simply converted the future pick into the more durable asset. A defensive back who starts 97 games for the acquiring franchise creates more cumulative value than four seasons from an older back, even one with a standout receiving year.
Final Verdict
Green Bay receives an A- and Kansas City a B. Both teams can defend the deal, and both received tangible football value. McCoy's eight-year Packers tenure and long run as a starter create the separation, so Green Bay wins a strong trade for both clubs.