Buffalo Bills received Norman Davis / Norm Davis. Buffalo…
Buffalo Bills received Norman Davis / Norm Davis. Buffalo obtained veteran guard Norman Davis, but the available career history does not show a regular-season Bills contribution after the move. With neither side converting the exchange into durable football value, equal C grades and an Even Trade are the most defensible result. That outcome supports a C grade for Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Norman Davis / Norm Davis
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick conditional sixth round pick (not exercised)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1971-08-02, Buffalo Bills received Norman Davis / Norm Davis, while Philadelphia Eagles received conditional sixth round pick (not exercised). Historical team, player, draft, and transaction sources support the direct package and provide enough career context to compare the football value that followed. The evaluation centers on what each club actually obtained from the exchange and how those assets performed or were converted afterward.
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo Bills received Norman Davis / Norm Davis. Buffalo obtained veteran guard Norman Davis, but the available career history does not show a regular-season Bills contribution after the move. With neither side converting the exchange into durable football value, equal C grades and an Even Trade are the most defensible result. That outcome supports a C grade for Buffalo Bills. The grade reflects the practical return created for this franchise rather than simply the name eventually attached to a pick after later movement.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia Eagles received conditional sixth round pick (not exercised). Philadelphia moved Davis for a conditional sixth-round choice, but that condition was not exercised, leaving the Eagles without a realized draft return. With neither side converting the exchange into durable football value, equal C grades and an Even Trade are the most defensible result. That outcome supports a C grade for Philadelphia Eagles. That side is judged on the value it actually controlled after the trade, including any documented playing time or clearly traceable draft return.
Value in Hindsight
With neither side converting the exchange into durable football value, equal C grades and an Even Trade are the most defensible result. The comparison gives the most weight to regular-season contribution, starting value, and clearly documented use of acquired draft capital. Later selections by another holder are useful for tracing a pick, but they are not treated as on-field production for a team that had already moved the asset.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. Buffalo Bills earns a C, and Philadelphia Eagles earns a C. Those grades match the supported direct package and the relative football value each side ultimately realized, without overstating a minor exchange or assigning another club's later player outcome to the wrong team.