New York traded Fred Dryer to New England for three draft…
New York traded Fred Dryer to New England for three draft choices: the 1972 first-round pick used on Eldridge Small, the 1972 sixth-rounder used on Mike Perfetti and a 1973 second-rounder that later became Greg Pruitt after another Giants trade. Dryer never played for the Patriots, but New England quickly moved him to the Rams for Rick Cash and a 1973 first-round pick that became Sam Cunningham.
New York Giants Received
- pick 1972 first-round pick, No. 17 overall, used on Eldridge Small
- pick 1972 sixth-round pick, No. 140 overall, used on Mike Perfetti
- pick 1973 second-round pick, No. 30 overall, later used by Cleveland on Greg Pruitt
New England Patriots Received
- player Fred Dryer
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
On January 31, 1972, the Giants sent defensive end Fred Dryer to the Patriots for three selections: No. 17 and No. 140 in the 1972 draft plus a 1973 second-rounder that became No. 30. New York used the first two picks on Eldridge Small and Mike Perfetti, then later sent the future No. 30 choice to Cleveland in the Fred Summers transaction.
Why New England Made the Deal
Dryer was an established pass rusher, and New England was willing to spend substantial draft capital to acquire him. The plan changed almost immediately because Dryer would not report without a long-term contract. Instead of losing the investment, the Patriots moved him to the Rams in April for defensive end Rick Cash and Los Angeles' 1973 first-round pick.
What New York Received
Three choices gave the Giants several chances to recoup value. Small became the direct first-round result, Perfetti came from the sixth-rounder, and the second-round asset became part of New York's later acquisition of Fred Summers. The package was significant even though none of those outcomes became a long-term Giants star on the level the draft volume might suggest.
How the Value Developed
New England's resale of Dryer changed the judgment. The Rams' 1973 first became No. 11 overall, which the Patriots used on Sam Cunningham. Cunningham became one of the most productive running backs in franchise history. The Patriots therefore turned a player who never suited up for them into a cornerstone offensive contributor and additional defensive help.
Final Verdict
New England gets the edge because the downstream conversion produced Cunningham, the best lasting value connected to the transaction. The Giants received legitimate compensation and multiple assets, but their realized return did not match what the Patriots ultimately created after moving Dryer again.
Cunningham became the strongest downstream asset in the chain.