Green Bay traded a 1976 sixth-round choice to Houston for…
Green Bay traded a 1976 sixth-round choice to Houston for Paul Robinson's rights, then released Robinson before the 1975 regular season. The pick is traceable to No. 166, which Houston later sent to Kansas City with two other choices as free-agent compensation for Elmo Wright. Wright played only two Oilers games with no receptions. Both sides converted the deal into little realized value, supporting equal low grades.
Green Bay Packers Received
- other rights to Paul Robinson
Tennessee Titans Received
- pick undisclosed draft pick (probably 1976 #166-Steve Taylor)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Green Bay acquired the rights to running back Paul Robinson from Houston in July 1975 for a 1976 sixth-round draft choice. Packers transaction history specifies the round, and the 1976 draft-trade ledger traces the choice to overall No. 166. That ledger also shows what happened next, allowing Houston's return to be evaluated without incorrectly crediting Steve Taylor as an Oilers draft pick.
Green Bay Packers Return
Green Bay received Robinson's rights and brought the veteran into camp, but the move produced no regular-season contribution. Pro Football Archives records Robinson with Green Bay in 1975 and no Packers games, while transaction records show he was released on August 13. His earlier success with Cincinnati and Houston belongs to those clubs; Green Bay received only a short preseason look.
Houston Oilers Return
Houston's No. 166 asset had real transaction value but little ultimate impact. The Oilers sent that choice, along with 1976 No. 144 and a 1977 fourth-rounder, to Kansas City as compensation for signing free agent Elmo Wright. Kansas City then used No. 166 on Steve Taylor. Houston should not be credited with Taylor. Its concrete outcome was the compensation package that brought Wright, who played just two games for Houston in 1975 and recorded no receptions.
Value in Hindsight
Neither return became meaningful on-field value. Green Bay released Robinson before the season, while Houston spent the acquired pick as one component of a larger compensation package for a receiver who barely appeared. The pick's downstream path matters because it proves Houston did use the asset, but the resulting Oilers contribution was still minimal.
Final Verdict
Green Bay receives a D for acquiring rights that produced zero regular-season games. Houston also receives a D because No. 166 was spent in a package whose relevant free-agent return produced only two games and no catches. Even Trade fits two sides that realized almost no lasting value.