Tampa Bay acquired veteran receiver Stephen Starring from New…
Tampa Bay acquired veteran receiver Stephen Starring from New England in August 1988 for a 1989 third-round pick. Starring lasted only six games with the Buccaneers and caught three passes for 75 yards before finishing the season in Detroit. New England used the pick, No. 63, on tight end Marv Cook, who became a multi-year starter and an 82-catch receiver in 1991.
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1989 third round pick (#63-Marv Cook)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- player Stephen Starring / Stephan Starring
Trade Analysis
Why Tampa Bay Added Starring
The Buccaneers acquired Stephen Starring late in the 1988 preseason, giving up a 1989 third-round selection for a veteran receiver and return specialist who had produced several useful seasons in New England. Tampa Bay was buying experience and big-play ability, but the cost was meaningful because a third-round pick still carried a realistic chance to become a multi-year starter.
What Tampa Bay Actually Received
Starring's Buccaneers stay was extremely short. NFL statistics credit him with six games for Tampa Bay in 1988, producing three catches for 75 yards and no touchdowns. He also appeared in six games for Detroit that same season. The Buccaneers therefore paid a future top-100 selection for a player who did not remain on the roster long enough to provide sustained value.
How New England Used the Pick
The Patriots' return became No. 63 in the 1989 draft, and New England selected tight end Marv Cook. After a quiet rookie season, Cook became a full-time starter. He caught 51 passes for 455 yards and five touchdowns in 1990, then surged to 82 receptions for 808 yards in 1991. He remained a Patriots starter through 1993, giving New England several seasons of direct production from the acquired pick.
Final Verdict
This is a decisive Patriots win. Tampa Bay received six games and minimal receiving production from Starring, while New England turned the third-rounder into a multi-year starter with a legitimate peak season. A B+ for the Patriots rewards the durable value without overstating Cook as a franchise-changing star. Tampa Bay falls to D+ because the price and the short tenure never came close to balancing.