Buffalo Bills received Rich Kingrea / Rick Kingrea / Rick…
Buffalo Bills received Rich Kingrea / Rick Kingrea / Rick Kingrey. Buffalo received linebacker Rick Kingrea. His Bills tenure was limited, so the player return did not create much lasting value for Buffalo. The club obtained a usable player, but Cleveland's draft choice produced the more durable NFL contribution after the exchange. That result supports a C grade for Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo Bills Received
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 1974 eighth round pick (#199-(Paul) Eddie Brown)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1973-09-10, Buffalo Bills received Rich Kingrea / Rick Kingrea / Rick Kingrey, while Cleveland Browns received 1974 eighth round pick (#199-(Paul) Eddie Brown). Historical team, transaction, draft, and player records support the package. The comparison credits each club for direct production and draft value it actually controlled after the exchange.
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo Bills received Rich Kingrea / Rick Kingrea / Rick Kingrey. Buffalo received linebacker Rick Kingrea. His Bills tenure was limited, so the player return did not create much lasting value for Buffalo. The club obtained a usable player, but Cleveland's draft choice produced the more durable NFL contribution after the exchange. That outcome supports a C grade. Later draft movement is treated as asset history, not as automatic credit for a player selected by another franchise.
Cleveland Browns Return
Cleveland Browns received 1974 eighth round pick (#199-(Paul) Eddie Brown). Cleveland received the 1974 eighth-round choice used at No. 199 on Eddie Brown. Brown produced more durable NFL value than Kingrea supplied in Buffalo, giving the Browns a modest but real edge. The advantage is not large enough for an aggressive grade, but it supports Cleveland as the winner. That outcome supports a C+ grade. The same standard applies to direct playing time, retained draft capital, and any clearly documented later transfer of the acquired asset.
Value in Hindsight
The 1974 draft records and Cleveland's official draft history agree that Buffalo acquired linebacker Rick Kingrea while Cleveland received the eighth-round choice used at No. 199 on Eddie Brown. The strongest hindsight evidence is the NFL contribution and asset control created by the exchange itself. That keeps the comparison proportional and avoids assigning another club's later player production to the original holder of a moved pick.
Final Verdict
The final call is Cleveland Browns Win. Buffalo Bills earns C, and Cleveland Browns earns C+. Those grades match the supported package and the relative football value each side realized without overstating the importance of a terminal draft selection.