Virgil Carter NFL Trade History

Atlanta Falcons received 1967 sixth round pick (#142-Virgil Carter) in the exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. The historical record shows how the player service and draft value developed after the deal, with the comparison favoring Pittsburgh Steelers. That result supports a C for Atlanta Falcons. The grade reflects the less valuable realized return and keeps the judgment proportional to the documented value produced by this transaction.

Expansion Atlanta acquired veteran linebacker Larry Morris from Chicago for two draft choices. The draft trail ties those assets to a 1967 sixth-rounder used on Virgil Carter and a 1968 third-rounder used on Major Hazelton. Chicago earns the stronger grade because two future picks outlasted one season of Morris. Atlanta obtained credible veteran leadership, but paying both a sixth and a third for a player near retirement shifted the value toward the Bears.

Atlanta acquired veteran linebacker Larry Morris from Chicago on September 8, 1966 for a 1967 sixth-round pick and a 1968 third-round pick. Morris played 12 games for the expansion Falcons in his final NFL season but did not start a game.

Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals exchanged 1971 sixth round pick (#145-Bill McKinley) for Virgil Carter. Buffalo's sixth-round return became Bill McKinley. The positional and workload gap is enormous. In hindsight, Cincinnati Bengals produced the stronger realized return, with the grade based on actual post-trade service and traceable downstream value rather than the nominal asset label alone.

Cincinnati acquired quarterback Wayne Clark from San Diego for Virgil Carter, then sent Reece Morrison as follow-up compensation after Carter signed with the World Football League instead of joining the Chargers. Clark spent the 1974 season as Cincinnati’s backup and appeared in all 14 games. Carter missed 1974 and Morrison was released, leaving the Bengals with the better realized return.