New England Patriots received Tony Franklin (a), while…
New England Patriots received Tony Franklin (a), while Philadelphia Eagles received 1985 sixth round pick (#156-Ken Reeves). New England and Philadelphia records confirm the February 22, 1984 Tony Franklin trade for the 1985 sixth-round selection that became No. 156, used on Ken Reeves. That return earns a B grade for New England Patriots, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.
New England Patriots Received
- player Tony Franklin (a)
Philadelphia Eagles Received
- pick 1985 sixth round pick (#156- Ken Reeves )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1984-02-22, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles completed a deal in which New England Patriots received Tony Franklin (a), while Philadelphia Eagles received 1985 sixth round pick (#156-Ken Reeves). The exchange was modest in scale, but it still created a direct comparison between the service one club obtained and the player or draft value returned to the other. The supported package provides a clear basis for judging both sides.
New England Patriots Return
New England Patriots came away with Tony Franklin (a). That side receives a B. The grade reflects direct service for the acquiring club and, where a selection was involved, the identifiable value produced by that choice. A useful role in a smaller transaction deserves credit, but the evaluation stays proportional to the size of the deal and the length of the contribution.
Philadelphia Eagles Return
Philadelphia Eagles received 1985 sixth round pick (#156-Ken Reeves), which earns a B. The same standard applies here: actual playing time, starting value, or a productive draft result counts more than theoretical value that never reached the field. A short stay or a late selection can still help, but it does not receive outsized credit simply because the exchange is easy to trace decades later.
Value in Hindsight
New England and Philadelphia records confirm the February 22, 1984 Tony Franklin trade for the 1985 sixth-round selection that became No. 156 Ken Reeves. Franklin handled New England's placekicking for four seasons, including the 1985 AFC championship season, while Reeves supplied Philadelphia with useful offensive-line service, producing meaningful value for both clubs. Hindsight therefore favors the return that produced the stronger supported value for the original club. Later movement of a player or selection can explain what the consideration became, but unrelated success after another transaction is not credited twice. Where historical sources differ on a minor detail, the comparison uses the strongest supported description without inventing information that the record does not establish.
Final Verdict
The final call is Even Trade. New England Patriots receives B, while Philadelphia Eagles receives B. The result follows the stronger direct return supported by the transaction history and the players or selections that actually reached the field. The grades are measured for the scale of the trade, separating a useful edge from a truly lopsided outcome.