Kansas City acquired center Rick Donnalley from Washington on…
Kansas City acquired center Rick Donnalley from Washington on April 29, 1986 and surrendered the sixth-round choice at No. 146. Donnalley gave the Chiefs useful immediate line help, including a starting role in 1986, so Kansas City received legitimate value. The problem is what Washington did with the pick: Mark Rypien became a two-time Pro Bowler and the quarterback of a Super Bowl champion.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- player Rick Donnalley
Washington Commanders Received
- pick 1986 sixth-round pick (No. 146 overall - Mark Rypien)
Trade Analysis
Why Kansas City Wanted Rick Donnalley
Kansas City was not making a frivolous move. Rick Donnalley was an experienced interior offensive lineman, and the Chiefs acquired him for a sixth-round pick during the 1986 draft. He stepped into a useful role and started throughout that season. For a team seeking immediate offensive-line stability, exchanging a late selection for a veteran starter was a defensible decision.
What Washington Did With No. 146
The value gap came from Washington's use of the pick. At No. 146, Washington selected Mark Rypien. He needed time before becoming the full-time starter, but the eventual payoff was enormous. Rypien earned Pro Bowl honors in 1989 and 1991, accumulated 15,928 passing yards for the franchise and became the quarterback of the dominant 1991 championship team.
What Rypien Changed
Rypien's peak elevated this trade far beyond the ordinary outcome of a sixth-round selection. His 1991 season ended with a Super Bowl victory, and his Washington career included a 45-27 record as a starter. A sixth-round pick rarely turns into a long-term starting quarterback, much less one who reaches that level of postseason success.
How Kansas City's Return Compares
Donnalley supplied real near-term value, which is why Kansas City still deserves a respectable grade. The Chiefs received a veteran starter rather than a failed acquisition. Yet useful line play for a limited period cannot match the franchise-changing outcome Washington found at quarterback with the pick it received.
Final Verdict
Washington earns an A+ and Kansas City a B-. The Chiefs made a sensible veteran-for-pick move, but Washington turned the sixth-rounder into a two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl-winning quarterback. That extraordinary conversion makes this a Washington Commanders Win.