Miami sent quarterback Eddie Wilson to Boston for cash on…
Miami sent quarterback Eddie Wilson to Boston for cash on July 10, 1967. Wilson had entered the Dolphins through the expansion draft but spent 1966 on injured reserve, making the deal a low-risk attempt by Boston to add veteran quarterback depth. Miami wins because it received cash for a player who retired almost immediately after the move. Boston's cost was not enormous, but the absence of any regular-season return makes the Patriots' side a clear miss.
Miami Dolphins Received
- other cash
New England Patriots Received
- player Eddie Wilson (a)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Miami sent quarterback Eddie Wilson to Boston for cash on July 10, 1967. Wilson had entered the Dolphins through the expansion draft but spent 1966 on injured reserve, making the deal a low-risk attempt by Boston to add veteran quarterback depth. The exchange made sense as a roster decision for both clubs at the time: Miami Dolphins received cash, while Boston Patriots received Eddie Wilson (a). The historical terms are stated at the level the surviving team and transaction records support, without attaching an uncertain draft choice to a named player when that link is not secure.
What Miami Dolphins Received
Miami recovered cash for a player who had not appeared in a regular-season game for the Dolphins. Moving Wilson before camp reduced roster congestion and returned something tangible from an expansion-draft asset that had not contributed on the field. For Miami Dolphins, the grade weighs the immediate role of the acquired asset, how long it remained useful, and whether any draft capital created a later roster return. That keeps the evaluation centered on football value rather than the reputation of the names involved.
What Boston Patriots Received
Boston's gamble produced almost no usable football value. Wilson's transaction history shows that he retired on July 21, only eleven days after the trade, so the Patriots never received a regular-season contribution from the acquisition. For Boston Patriots, the same standard applies: games played, starting value, later movement, and the practical quality of any selection received. A late pick is not treated like a premium asset, and a veteran who never reached the regular season does not receive credit for value that never materialized.
Final Verdict
Miami wins because it received cash for a player who retired almost immediately after the move. Boston's cost was not enormous, but the absence of any regular-season return makes the Patriots' side a clear miss. The final grades are Miami Dolphins B and Boston Patriots D. The verdict is based on the strongest supportable description of the transaction and the career value that followed. That produces a complete historical judgment while keeping the package faithful to what the available football records can actually establish.