New York traded running back Butch Woolfolk to Houston on…
New York traded running back Butch Woolfolk to Houston on March 21, 1985, for the third-round selection at No. 58 that became Tyrone Davis. Davis appeared in only seven NFL games, while Woolfolk immediately produced a major 1985 season for the Oilers. The draft return was legitimate, but the realized value strongly favored Houston.
New York Giants Received
- pick 1985 third-round pick (No. 58, Tyrone Davis)
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Butch Woolfolk
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On March 21, 1985, the Giants sent running back Butch Woolfolk to the Houston Oilers for a third-round choice in that year's draft. New York used the selection at No. 58 overall on Tyrone Davis. The transaction was therefore a straightforward veteran-for-pick deal, with the later careers of Woolfolk and Davis giving the exchange a unusually clear hindsight comparison.
New York Giants Return
The Giants converted Woolfolk into a top-60 draft choice, a defensible roster-management decision in theory. The problem was the result. Davis appeared in only seven NFL games, so New York did not receive meaningful on-field production from the acquired selection. A third-round pick has real value, but the realized return remained minimal once the player chosen with it failed to establish a durable role.
Houston Oilers Return
Houston received immediate offense from Woolfolk. In 1985 he totaled 1,206 yards from scrimmage and caught 80 passes, becoming a significant part of the Oilers' attack right away. Even without requiring a long multi-year peak, that one season produced far more direct value than New York obtained from Davis. Houston paid a meaningful pick and received meaningful veteran production in return.
Value in Hindsight
This is the kind of pick-for-player deal where process and outcome point in different directions. New York's choice to obtain a third-rounder was reasonable, but the player selected with it barely contributed. Houston accepted the risk of buying a veteran and was rewarded immediately. Woolfolk's 1985 production alone creates a substantial separation from Davis' seven-game NFL career.
Final Verdict
Houston Oilers Win. Houston receives a B for turning a third-round pick into an immediate high-volume offensive contributor. New York receives a D because the No. 58 selection became a player who appeared in only seven games. The price was not reckless for the Oilers, and the realized production makes the winner much clearer than the previous grades suggested.