Detroit Lions received 1979 fourth round pick (#86-Russell…
Detroit Lions received 1979 fourth round pick (#86-Russell Davis) in the 1978-05-10 exchange with Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Detroit received No. 86 in the 1979 draft and later traded that selection to Pittsburgh for defensive back Jimmy Allen, extending the value of the original deal. Against Tampa Bay Buccaneers' return of Rocky Freitas (Rockne Freitas), that outcome supports a B grade. The transaction is judged Detroit Lions Win, with the mark tied to the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Detroit Lions Received
- pick 1979 fourth round pick (#86- Russell Davis )
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Rocky Freitas (Rockne Freitas)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers completed this transaction on 1978-05-10. Detroit Lions received 1979 fourth round pick (#86-Russell Davis), while Tampa Bay Buccaneers received Rocky Freitas (Rockne Freitas). The terms are evaluated from the value each club actually realized after the exchange, including documented playing time and any downstream use of an acquired draft choice. That keeps the comparison focused on the transaction itself rather than on hypothetical value.
Detroit Lions Return
Detroit received No. 86 in the 1979 draft and later traded that selection to Pittsburgh for defensive back Jimmy Allen, extending the value of the original deal. That result supports the B grade assigned to Detroit Lions. The mark gives credit for service or asset value traceable to this deal and does not inflate the return simply because a player or draft choice carried a recognizable name. The relevant question is what the club actually received from the asset after the exchange.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Return
Freitas played thirteen games with two starts for Tampa Bay in 1978, his final NFL season, providing only short-term value. That result supports the C- grade assigned to Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The same standard applies on this side: realized production, starts, roster utility, or a documented downstream transaction matters more than the nominal label attached to the asset. The grade therefore reflects practical football value rather than theoretical upside.
Value in Hindsight
The advantage belongs to Detroit Lions. Its verified return produced more useful service or downstream value than Tampa Bay Buccaneers' side, while the grade spread remains proportional to the modest scale of the original transaction. The comparison also avoids crediting either club for value that belonged to a later, unrelated team or for a downstream outcome that the club never actually controlled. That produces a cleaner measure of what this specific exchange delivered.
Final Verdict
Detroit Lions Win. Detroit Lions earns a B, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers earns a C-. Detroit Lions receives the better mark because its side produced the clearer realized football return. The conclusion follows the verified service and downstream value tied to each side of the transaction, with the grades scaled to the size and impact of the deal.