By Budd Bailey, Buffalo Sports Page Columnist
No. 91: April 30, 1985 – The Bills trade a first-round draft choice (acquired from Cleveland) in 1985 (Ken Ruettgers) and a fourth-round draft choice in 1986 (Tim Harris) to Green Bay for a first-round draft choice in 1985 (Derrick Burroughs), and a second-round draft choice in 1985 (Chris Burkett).
The Bills had a bit of a problem on their hands when they completed the trade that allowed the Browns to draft Bernie Kosar. Cleveland gave up linebacker Chip Banks in the trade, but he refused to report to the Bills. The two teams agreed on a first-round pick as compensation for the Bills in the transaction.
Buffalo turned around and traded that choice to Green Bay in a four-player swap. Ruettgers ended up as a starting defensive lineman for the Packers for more than a decade, so Green Bay was happy about that. Linebacker Tim Harris spent five years as a Packer and made the Pro Bowl once, and later played for the 49ers and Eagles. Green Bay made out fine on this one.
In return, the Bills took Derrick Burroughs in the first round. The cornerback was a starter when he suffered a spine injury in a 1989 game against Houston. Burroughs was paralyzed for more than 24 hours and never played another game of football, although he has been a coach for portions of his life since that injury. Chris Burkett was a helpful player for a while, catching 56 passes in the strike-shortened season of 1987.
(Follow Budd on Twitter @WDX2BB)
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