Atlanta Falcons received Reggie Wilkes from Philadelphia…

The Exchange

On 1986-04-17, Atlanta Falcons received Reggie Wilkes, while Philadelphia Eagles received 1986 seventh round pick (#169-Corn Redick). The exchange is judged by the regular-season service, draft value, and durability each club actually obtained from those incoming assets. The relatively modest stakes matter when setting the grades, but the comparison still rewards the side that converted its return into more useful football value. Atlanta Falcons Return Reggie Wilkes started all 16 games in 1986, intercepted two passes, and returned for six more games in 1987, giving Atlanta immediate defensive help. The B grade reflects the length and quality of that contribution relative to what Atlanta Falcons surrendered. It does not require a star-level outcome; it measures whether the incoming asset created dependable value for the club that controlled it. Philadelphia Eagles Return Philadelphia used the seventh-round return on Corn Redick, who did not provide the Eagles a comparable regular-season contribution. The D grade applies the same standard to Philadelphia Eagles, emphasizing actual games, starts, production, or retained draft value rather than hypothetical upside. That keeps both sides of the exchange on the same scale. Value in Hindsight The comparison favors the return that became more useful and lasted longer, while giving appropriate credit when both clubs received real contributions. Philadelphia sent veteran linebacker Reggie Wilkes to Atlanta for the seventh-round choice used on Corn Redick. Wilkes immediately started all 16 games for the Falcons in 1986, added two interceptions, and returned for six more games in 1987. Redick did not provide Philadelphia comparable regular-season value, leaving Atlanta with the clearly stronger realized return. The hindsight call remains proportional to a minor transaction: useful depth, a productive late-round selection, or a short starting stint can matter without being treated like a franchise-changing move. Final Verdict The final call is Atlanta Falcons Win. Atlanta Falcons earns B, and Philadelphia Eagles earns D. Those grades reflect the documented package, the service or draft value that followed, and the relative durability of each club's return. The result stays focused on what the teams actually received from this transaction rather than on unrelated later events.