Atlanta received Miami's 1979 third-round pick, No. 79, and…
Atlanta received Miami's 1979 third-round pick, No. 79, and selected William Andrews. Andrews became one of the most productive backs in Falcons history, rushing for 5,986 yards and adding 2,647 receiving yards during his NFL career. The longer view produces a A+ grade for Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta earns an A+ and Miami a C.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 1979 third round pick (#79-William Andrews (b))
Miami Dolphins Received
- player Ralph Ortega
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Atlanta Falcons received 1979 third round pick (#79-William Andrews (b)), while Miami Dolphins received Ralph Ortega. The transaction is best judged by the football value those assets ultimately produced for the teams that acquired them, rather than by draft position or name recognition alone.
What Atlanta Falcons Received
Atlanta received Miami's 1979 third-round pick, No. 79, and selected William Andrews. Andrews became one of the most productive backs in Falcons history, rushing for 5,986 yards and adding 2,647 receiving yards during his NFL career.
What Miami Dolphins Received
Miami received linebacker Ralph Ortega. Ortega gave the Dolphins veteran depth, but his contribution did not approach the long-term offensive value Atlanta created with the third-round selection.
How the Value Developed
This is a classic draft-pick outcome where the selected player matters enormously. Atlanta did not merely receive a third-round asset; it used the pick on a centerpiece offensive player who produced thousands of rushing and receiving yards. Miami's return was legitimate NFL help, but on a much smaller scale.
Why the Difference Matters
The important distinction is realized team value. Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins each acquired something usable, but the length, role and quality of the resulting contributions were not equal. That difference is what drives the hindsight grades without exaggerating the importance of a standard-tier transaction.
Final Verdict
Atlanta earns an A+ and Miami a C. The Falcons transformed pick No. 79 into William Andrews, creating franchise-level value from a third-round selection. Ortega supplied Miami with usable veteran depth, yet the realized outcomes are too far apart for anything other than a decisive Atlanta win.