Arizona Cardinals
Trade grades, verdicts, asset movement, and historical context for Arizona Cardinals franchise trades.
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Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals agreed to trade Marvin Harrison Jr. and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Houston Texans on October 11, 2026. Arizona receives Houston's 2027 second-round and sixth-round picks. The trade reunites Harrison with former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud while giving Arizona additional draft capital for a player who had just five receptions in four games this season.
Arizona acquired tight end Hunter Long and a 2028 seventh-round pick from Jacksonville on August 30, 2026 for a 2028 sixth-round selection, pending a physical. The Cardinals address an immediate tight-end need while Jacksonville moves up one round in a distant draft for a player near the back of its depth chart. With modest cost and modest return on both sides, the current verdict is even.
Arizona traded Corey Kiner to New England for a 2028 seventh-round pick. The Cardinals turned a crowded-backfield extra into future draft capital, which is reasonable roster management, but the return is still light for a 24-year-old runner who flashed throughout the preseason. Arizona gets something instead of risking a waiver loss, yet the stronger current value sits with New England.
Arizona moved down from pick No. 152 to No. 174 and added No. 211, turning those selections into Denzel Burke and Hayden Conner. Dallas used No. 152 on Shemar James. James delivered 84 tackles in 14 games, but Burke countered with 48 tackles, 11 passes defensed and three interceptions while Conner added line depth. The extra contributor gives Arizona a narrow early edge.
Arizona acquired edge rusher Baron Browning from Denver for a 2025 sixth-round pick. Browning immediately joined the Cardinals' rotation, recorded two sacks in eight games after the trade and later re-signed, then added 34 tackles, two sacks and an interception in 2025. Denver recovered a late selection, but Arizona received multiple seasons of usable defensive snaps for a modest price.
Kansas City acquired edge rusher Cameron Thomas from Arizona for a 2025 seventh-round pick, with the league's transaction list recording the trade on August 27, 2024. Thomas appeared in only four games for the Chiefs, logged no defensive statistics and was waived in November. Arizona eventually held the selection used at No. 225, giving the Cardinals the stronger realized value from a small deal.
Atlanta traded up eight spots in the 2024 second round for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro and also received a sixth-round pick used on Jase McClellan. Arizona moved down to No. 43 for cornerback Max Melton and added No. 79, which was later moved. Orhorhoro and Melton have both become useful defenders, leaving the exchange balanced two seasons later.
Indianapolis moved up three spots in the 2024 third round for tackle Matt Goncalves, sending Arizona the selections used on tight end Tip Reiman and receiver Tejhaun Palmer. Goncalves appeared in every game as a rookie and started seven times across both tackle spots. Arizona received two players from one pick, but Indianapolis has realized the stronger early value from the deal's most important selection.
Atlanta sent quarterback Desmond Ridder to Arizona for wide receiver Rondale Moore in a straight player-for-player swap. Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury before playing a regular-season snap for the Falcons, so Atlanta never received on-field production from its acquisition. Ridder failed to secure Arizona's backup job and later left the Cardinals' practice squad, leaving both original teams without meaningful regular-season value from the exchanged players.
Minnesota acquired Joshua Dobbs and a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick from Arizona for a sixth after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles. Dobbs delivered two memorable comeback wins but finished his Vikings stint with 895 passing yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions before losing the job. The seventh-rounder became Michael Jurgens, who made three center starts in 2025. Arizona received a sixth-round asset. Minnesota still won, but the original A- grade was too generous.
Arizona traded reserve tackle Josh Jones and a 2024 seventh-round pick to Houston for a 2024 fifth-round selection. The Cardinals used No. 162 on tackle Christian Jones, improving their draft position while moving a veteran outside their long-term plans. Houston received immediate offensive-line depth from Josh Jones and also retained the seventh-round component of the exchange.
Arizona acquired quarterback Joshua Dobbs plus a 2024 seventh-round pick. Dobbs immediately started eight games for the Cardinals in 2023, throwing for 1,569 yards and eight touchdowns before Arizona later traded him. The seventh-round asset added retained transaction value. Even though Dobbs was a short-term solution, eight starts at quarterback provided meaningful immediate value and gave Arizona the stronger realized return.
New York acquired Isaiah Simmons from Arizona for a 2024 seventh-round pick after the Cardinals declined his fifth-year option. Simmons played all 17 games for the Giants in 2023, recording 50 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a pick-six, then re-signed for 2024. Arizona used the resulting No. 226 selection on Jaden Davis. The Giants received useful veteran snaps for a minimal draft cost.
Arizona moved from No. 33 to No. 41 in 2023, exchanged third-round positions and added Tennessee's 2024 third-rounder. The Titans selected Will Levis and Tyjae Spears; Arizona's return became BJ Ojulari, Garrett Williams and Isaiah Adams. Spears has been productive, but Levis did not establish himself as Tennessee's long-term quarterback, while Williams and Adams developed into regular Arizona starters. The broader return favors the Cardinals.
Detroit moved up to No. 96 for Brodric Martin and sent Arizona picks Nos. 122, 139 and 168. Martin appeared in only six games with one start over his first two active seasons. Arizona's return produced guard Jon Gaines II, quarterback Clayton Tune and linebacker Owen Pappoe, giving the Cardinals several roster contributors. The package was not spectacular, but it clearly outperformed Detroit's limited result.
Houston paid a premium to move from No. 12 to No. 3 for Will Anderson Jr., sending Arizona additional 2023 and 2024 premium picks. Anderson has 30 sacks in three seasons, won 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned 2025 first-team All-Pro honors and received a major extension. Arizona converted its return into several young pieces, including Darius Robinson, but none has matched Anderson’s impact. Hindsight now favors Houston despite the original price.
Detroit moved down from No. 6 to No. 12 in 2023 and came away with Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and additional draft capital, while Arizona moved up for tackle Paris Johnson Jr. Gibbs has made three Pro Bowls, scored an NFL-record 49 touchdowns through three seasons and surpassed 5,000 scrimmage yards; LaPorta has 2,104 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. Johnson has been a quality starting tackle, but Detroit’s two-star return is exceptional.
Arizona moved down from No. 66, selected Michael Wilson at No. 94, and also received a future fifth-round pick. Wilson became a core Cardinals receiver, totaling 163 catches, 2,119 yards, and 14 touchdowns through 2025 before agreeing to a major extension in September 2026. His established offensive role gives Arizona the strongest realized value in the deal by a wide margin.
Carolina traded Robbie Anderson to Arizona in October 2022 for a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-rounder. The move ended an unhappy Panthers relationship while recovering two future assets and clearing the receiver from the roster. Anderson produced little for Arizona before the Cardinals moved on, so even modest late-round compensation became meaningful. Carolina won by extracting value from a player it was already prepared to separate from.
Arizona Cardinals received Trayvon Mullen in the 2022-08-30 exchange involving Las Vegas/Oakland Raiders. Mullen appeared in eight games for Arizona before the club waived him in December, so the Cardinals received only a short stretch of depth from the acquisition. That realized return supports a D+ grade for Arizona Cardinals. The overall verdict is Las Vegas Raiders Win, with the grade based on direct value created from this transaction.
Arizona Cardinals received Cody Ford in the exchange with Buffalo Bills. Cody Ford played 11 games with three starts for Arizona in 2022, giving the Cardinals a modest but tangible veteran return. Against Buffalo Bills' return of 2023 5th round pick (137th overall subsequently traded, K.J. Henry), that outcome supports a B- grade. The transaction is judged as Arizona Cardinals Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Arizona acquired Marquise Brown and pick No. 100 from Baltimore for the 23rd pick in the 2022 draft. Baltimore immediately traded down to No. 25 and added No. 130, turning those selections into Tyler Linderbaum and Jordan Stout. Brown gave Arizona useful receiving production but stayed only two seasons, while Linderbaum became a foundational Ravens center. Baltimore's downstream return makes this a clear Ravens win.
Arizona Cardinals received Zach Ertz. Zach Ertz became an immediate and meaningful receiving option for Arizona and continued producing across subsequent Cardinals seasons, giving the club the strongest direct return. That result supports a B+ grade for Arizona Cardinals. The final verdict is Arizona Cardinals Win, based on the documented service, durability, and value each club actually obtained from this exchange.
Arizona sent picks 160 and a 2022 fourth to Baltimore for Nos. 136 and 210, selecting Marco Wilson and Victor Dimukeje. Wilson started extensively over his first three seasons and intercepted three passes in 2022 before being released late in 2023; Dimukeje developed into a useful rotational edge defender. Baltimore's Shaun Wade was traded before his rookie season, while Charlie Kolar became a reserve tight end with 30 catches for 409 yards through 2025. Arizona received more total defensive value.
Minnesota acquired interior lineman Mason Cole from Arizona for the 223rd pick in the 2021 draft. Cole appeared in 14 games and started seven for the Vikings, providing useful center and guard depth. Arizona selected Tay Gowan at No. 223 and later included him in the Zach Ertz trade, giving both clubs some value.
Arizona acquired veteran center Rodney Hudson and a seventh-round pick from Las Vegas for the 79th selection in the 2021 draft. Hudson gave the Cardinals two seasons of experienced center play but missed time and retired after 2022. The Raiders used No. 79 on Malcolm Koonce, who developed into an eight-sack edge defender in 2023, later returned from injury, and re-signed with Las Vegas. The younger, longer-lasting return gives the Raiders the win.
Arizona Cardinals received Markus Golden in the 2020-10-23 exchange, while New York Giants received 2021 6th round pick (201st overall, Rodarius Williams). Arizona reacquired Markus Golden and received useful pass-rush production after bringing him back. The Cardinals paid a 2021 sixth-round pick, but Golden’s on-field contribution made the veteran acquisition worthwhile and supports the strongest grade in this wave.
Arizona's trade for DeAndre Hopkins became one of the most lopsided modern NFL deals. The Cardinals acquired an elite wide receiver and a fourth-round pick while sending David Johnson and draft compensation to Houston. Hopkins immediately gave Arizona a true No. 1 target. Houston's return never came close. The trade still stands out because Arizona landed the best player in the deal without paying anything close to a normal superstar price.
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona acquired Kenyan Drake for a conditional 2020 pick that became a fifth-rounder. Drake immediately erupted for 643 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in eight games, then added 955 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2020. Miami later used the acquired pick in the Matt Breida trade, but Drake's two-season production gave Arizona the stronger direct football payoff.
Arizona received the 2020 sixth-round pick at No. 202 and selected Evan Weaver. Arizona received the 2020 sixth-round pick at No. 202 and used it on Evan Weaver. Weaver did not produce regular-season value for the Cardinals, so the draft return never translated into an on-field payoff. The pick had theoretical value on the day of the trade, but its realized return was minimal. In hindsight, that result supports a D+ grade for Arizona Cardinals in a deal ultimately judged as New England Patriots Win.
Philadelphia acquired safety Rudy Ford from Arizona for defensive tackle Bruce Hector on August 22, 2019. Ford became a useful Eagles reserve and special-teams player, while Hector's stay with Arizona was brief. In hindsight, the grades are C for Arizona Cardinals and B- for Philadelphia Eagles, producing a Philadelphia Eagles Win verdict. The modest scoring reflects the limited scale of the transaction.
Miami traded the 62nd pick in 2019 and a 2020 fifth-rounder to Arizona for quarterback Josh Rosen, betting that the previous year’s No. 10 pick could rebound in a new setting. Rosen started only three games for the Dolphins, threw one touchdown against five interceptions and was waived before the 2020 season. Arizona used No. 62 on Andy Isabella and later recycled the fifth-round asset in the Kenyan Drake trade.
Arizona Cardinals received Marcus Gilbert from Pittsburgh Steelers. Marcus Gilbert tore his ACL before the 2019 opener, never played a regular-season game for Arizona, and later opted out of the 2020 season. The F grade reflects the direct value Arizona Cardinals realized from the transaction, with the final Pittsburgh Steelers Win call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.
Arizona Cardinals received Jamar Taylor in the exchange with Cleveland Browns. Taylor appeared in 10 games with three starts for Arizona in 2018, then moved on after the season. His stay gave the Cardinals short-term secondary depth but no extended return. The D grade reflects the direct value Arizona Cardinals realized from the deal, while the Cleveland Browns Win call weighs actual regular-season service and clearly connected draft value rather than name recognition alone.
Arizona jumped from No. 15 to No. 10 in the 2018 draft for quarterback Josh Rosen, sending Oakland third- and fifth-round picks. Rosen lasted one season with the Cardinals before Arizona drafted Kyler Murray and traded him away. Oakland used No. 15 on tackle Kolton Miller, who developed into a long-term starter and Pro Bowler, making the Raiders the overwhelming winner even before accounting for the additional picks.
New Orleans moved Adrian Peterson after four games in a crowded backfield and received a conditional 2018 sixth-round pick that became No. 189, used on Kamrin Moore. Arizona needed a runner after David Johnson's injury and got six starts, 448 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Peterson. The Cardinals received the more useful direct return, although the short stay keeps the margin modest.
Arizona traded offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom to Baltimore in September 2017 for a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick. The condition was not met, so no draft selection ultimately moved to the Cardinals. Bergstrom appeared in four games for Baltimore before being released later that season. The deal therefore produced little lasting value for either club, and the historical record should preserve the conditional right without falsely treating pick No. 238 as conveyed.
Arizona Cardinals received 2017 6th round pick (208th overall, Rudy Ford) in the 2017-04-29 exchange with Las Vegas Raiders. Rudy Ford developed into a durable NFL safety and special-teams contributor, giving Arizona real multi-season value from the move down. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Arizona Cardinals surrendered, the result supports Arizona Cardinals Win and a B- grade for Arizona Cardinals.
Carolina paid picks No. 98 and No. 115 to Arizona to move up to No. 77 for defensive end Daeshon Hall. Hall appeared in only one regular-season game for the Panthers before injuries derailed his rookie year and his Carolina tenure ended. Arizona turned the two incoming choices into wide receiver Chad Williams and guard Dorian Johnson, giving the Cardinals more realized roster value from the exchange.
Arizona moved up to 2017 second-round No. 36 for Budda Baker and also received No. 221 Shalom Luani, sending Chicago Nos. 45, 119 and 197 plus a 2018 fourth-round pick. Chicago gained several chances and landed Tarik Cohen among them, but Baker became a perennial Pro Bowl safety, giving Arizona the transaction's highest-value outcome.
Arizona sent Kansas City a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick for cornerback Marcus Cooper just before the 2016 season. Cooper started 13 games, intercepted four passes and returned one for a touchdown, giving the Cardinals immediate secondary value. Kansas City eventually received No. 233 and packaged it with another seventh-rounder to move up for Kahlil McKenzie. The Chiefs preserved some value, but Arizona got the stronger direct return.
Arizona acquired Chandler Jones from New England for guard Jonathan Cooper and the 61st pick in the 2016 draft. Jones became one of the Cardinals' best pass rushers, recording 71.5 sacks in six seasons. New England later traded the second-rounder and turned the return into picks used on Joe Thuney and Malcolm Mitchell, creating substantial value of its own.
Philadelphia traded quarterback Matt Barkley to Arizona in September 2015 for a conditional 2016 seventh-round pick that could have improved to a sixth. The condition did not escalate, and the Eagles ultimately received pick No. 251, selecting linebacker Joe Walker. Barkley never became an Arizona starter, while Walker played 12 games with three starts for Philadelphia in 2017. The modest result still favors the Eagles.
Arizona moved up seven spots in the 2015 fourth round, acquiring No. 116 and drafting defensive lineman Rodney Gunter. Cleveland received Nos. 123, 198 and 241, using them on Vince Mayle, Randall Telfer and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. Gunter played 77 games with 38 starts and 11 sacks for Arizona, while Cleveland's three-player return never approached that sustained impact, giving the Cardinals a clear win.
Arizona moved down three spots in the 2015 second round, sending No. 55 to Baltimore for Nos. 58 and 158. The Ravens selected tight end Maxx Williams, while the Cardinals landed edge rusher Markus Golden and later used the fifth-rounder on Shaquille Riddick. Williams became a useful NFL tight end, but Golden's pass-rush production gave Arizona the strongest outcome by a wide margin.
Arizona Cardinals received a conditional 2014 pick (not conveyed) from Pittsburgh Steelers, sending Levi Brown the other way. Neither side realized meaningful value, supporting an even low grade. That outcome supports a C- grade for Arizona Cardinals, and the overall verdict is Even Trade. The grade stays proportional to the size of the exchange and the direct value created for the original club.
Kansas City acquired fullback Anthony Sherman, who became an eight-season fixture for the Chiefs on offense and special teams. Sherman earned a Pro Bowl selection and was part of the club's Super Bowl LIV championship roster. His longevity, role versatility, and importance to a successful era gave Kansas City far more sustained value than is typical in a straight player-for-player depth trade.
The Giants traded up six spots in the 2013 fourth round for quarterback Ryan Nassib, sending Arizona picks No. 116 and No. 187. Nassib remained a reserve behind Eli Manning and started no regular-season games for New York. The Cardinals turned the return into lineman Earl Watford and running back Andre Ellington, who became an explosive multi-year offensive contributor. Arizona’s two-player return clearly surpassed the Giants’ backup-quarterback value.
The Giants sent picks 116 and 187 to Arizona to move up six spots in the 2013 fourth round for quarterback Ryan Nassib. Nassib spent four seasons as Eli Manning's backup but barely played. Arizona selected guard Earl Watford and running back Andre Ellington, who became one of the Cardinals' most productive offensive players for several seasons. The Cardinals clearly received more usable value from the two selections.
San Diego moved up seven spots in the 2013 second round to select linebacker Manti Te'o at No. 38, sending Arizona Nos. 45 and 110. The Cardinals stayed in the same round and selected Kevin Minter at No. 45, then later moved the No. 110 choice. Te'o gave the Chargers useful defensive snaps, but Arizona kept comparable player value while adding another tradable pick.
Arizona acquired Carson Palmer and a seventh-round pick for a sixth-rounder plus a conditional 2014 seventh. Palmer became the Cardinals' long-term starter, went 38-21-1 in regular-season starts for Arizona and delivered a 13-3 season with an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2015. Oakland moved up 43 spots in the 2013 draft and later received the pick used on Shelby Harris, but the Raiders realized little lasting value from those assets. Arizona won decisively.
Minnesota acquired cornerback A.J. Jefferson and Arizona's 2013 seventh-round pick for a 2013 sixth-rounder. Jefferson immediately entered the Vikings' defensive rotation, while the seventh-rounder became linebacker Michael Mauti, another useful roster piece. Arizona ultimately did not use the outgoing sixth-round selection itself. The Vikings received two players who contributed in Minnesota, enough to make the modest move a clear but unspectacular win.
Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals received Vonnie Holliday; 2012 6th round pick (177th overall, Justin Bethel) from Washington, giving up Tim Hightower. Arizona received veteran defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday plus the future sixth-rounder used on Justin Bethel. Getting both an immediate player and a realized draft asset supports a B. That return supports a B grade for Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals. The final verdict is Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals Win.
Philadelphia traded Kevin Kolb to Arizona for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 second-round pick. Rodgers-Cromartie started for two Eagles seasons, and Philadelphia later turned the No. 51 pick into No. 59 and No. 123, selecting Vinny Curry and Brandon Boykin. Kolb made only 14 starts for Arizona across two injury-affected seasons, leaving the Eagles with the substantially stronger return.
Arizona Cardinals received 2011 6th round pick (184th overall, David Carter) in the exchange with Philadelphia Eagles. Carter played all 32 Cardinals games across the 2011 and 2012 seasons and recorded a sack. A late-round pick therefore became two full seasons of defensive-line depth for Arizona. The B grade reflects the direct value Arizona Cardinals realized from the deal, while the Arizona Cardinals Win call weighs actual regular-season service and clearly connected draft value rather than name recognition alone.
Cardinals received Charles Scott in the exchange with Philadelphia Eagles. Its B- grade reflects the practical value of that return relative to the package surrendered and the hindsight result. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.
Pittsburgh sent a fifth-round pick to Arizona and received cornerback Bryant McFadden plus the sixth-round selection used on Antonio Brown. McFadden returned as a starter, while Brown became a four-time first-team All-Pro and one of the most productive receivers of his era. Arizona selected John Skelton, who provided some quarterback starts but could not balance the return.
Arizona traded picks No. 58 and No. 89 to New England for No. 47 and selected linebacker Daryl Washington. Washington started 53 games in four seasons, made the 2012 Pro Bowl and produced 18 sacks before suspensions ended his Arizona career. New England later turned the two picks into Brandon Spikes, Zoltan Mesko and a future second-rounder, creating useful depth but not matching Washington's peak impact.
Arizona acquired safety Kerry Rhodes from New York for a 2010 fourth-round pick and a 2011 seventh-round selection. Rhodes started immediately, produced turnovers and remained the Cardinals' starting free safety through 2012. New York used the fourth-round asset in the move for Joe McKnight and later selected Greg McElroy with the seventh, but Arizona received the stronger direct on-field return.
Baltimore acquired Anquan Boldin and a fifth-round pick for third- and fourth-round selections, then watched Boldin become a dependable playoff receiver and a central figure in the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII championship. Arizona used the third-rounder on Andre Roberts and later moved the fourth-round pick, receiving some useful value but no comparable star. The fifth-rounder Baltimore received became Arthur Jones, adding another contributor to an already lopsided return.
Arizona Cardinals
Oakland moved down five spots in the 2007 second round, sending No. 33 to Arizona and receiving Nos. 38 and 105. The Raiders used No. 38 on tight end Zach Miller, who became a productive four-year starter and a Pro Bowler in Oakland. Arizona selected defensive tackle Alan Branch at No. 33, but his Cardinals tenure lasted only three seasons, giving Oakland the better long-term return.
Arizona Cardinals received Brandon Gorin. Brandon Gorin did not produce a Cardinals regular-season appearance before moving on, leaving Arizona without meaningful direct on-field value from the acquired veteran. That result supports a D grade for Arizona Cardinals. The final verdict is Even Trade, based on the documented service, durability, and value each club actually obtained from this exchange.
New England acquired veteran corner Duane Starks and pick 145 from Arizona for picks 95 and 168. Starks started six games but struggled, landed on injured reserve and was released after one season. Arizona did not turn its two selections into stars, yet Darryl Blackstock supplied several seasons of linebacker depth, giving the Cardinals the better direct return from a deal that disappointed both sides.
Arizona Cardinals received Troy Hambrick and Peppi Zellner from Oakland Raiders, giving up 2005 conditional 6th round pick (possibly 182nd overall, Cedric Houston). The supported primary return is a conditional 2005 sixth-round pick, with any extra selection unproven. The return supports a B grade because the value directly tied to this deal fits that mark. The final verdict is Arizona Cardinals Win.
Tampa Bay acquired running back Thomas Jones from Arizona in June 2003 for wide receiver Marquise Walker. Jones rushed for 627 yards at 4.6 yards per carry in his lone Buccaneers season, then went on to a long, productive career elsewhere. Walker never played a regular-season game for Arizona. Tampa Bay therefore received meaningful immediate production for a player who produced no Cardinals return, making the Buccaneers the clear winner.
Detroit traded wide receiver Larry Foster to Arizona on April 27, 2003 for the Cardinals' seventh-round selection, No. 220, which the Lions used on Blue Adams. Arizona obtained immediate receiver depth, while Detroit converted Foster into a fresh draft opportunity. The transaction was small, but the Lions extracted a usable asset instead of losing the player for nothing, creating a modest Detroit edge.
New Orleans paid an enormous package to move from picks 17 and 18 to No. 6 in 2003, also exchanging second- and fourth-round value with Arizona. The Saints selected defensive tackle Johnathan Sullivan, while Arizona's return produced Bryant Johnson, Calvin Pace and Anquan Boldin. Sullivan became a major first-round disappointment and Boldin became a franchise star, creating one of the widest draft-trade gaps of the era.
Arizona traded Aeneas Williams to the Rams on April 21, 2001 for the 54th and 123rd picks. The Cardinals used those selections on Michael Stone and Marcus Bell. Williams, already a decorated veteran, became an immediate centerpiece for St. Louis, helping the Rams reach Super Bowl XXXVI and later earning Hall of Fame induction. The draft return did not approach his post-trade impact, giving the Rams a clear win.
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals received J.B. Brown in the exchange with Pittsburgh Steelers. J.B. Brown played 15 games with six starts for Arizona during the Cardinals' 1998 playoff season. He supplied useful immediate secondary depth at a low acquisition cost. The B- grade reflects the direct value Arizona Cardinals realized from the deal, while the Pittsburgh Steelers Win call weighs actual regular-season service and clearly connected draft value rather than name recognition alone.
Arizona sent the 65th pick in the 1998 draft to the Jets for running back Adrian Murrell and the 209th pick. Murrell immediately became Arizona’s starting back, started 14 games in 1998 and scored 10 total touchdowns during the Cardinals’ playoff season. New York later moved the 65th pick for two lower selections. The Jets preserved draft flexibility, but Arizona received the most meaningful immediate football value.
Arizona turned the second pick in the 1998 draft into an enormous package from San Diego: Eric Metcalf, Patrick Sapp, the No. 3 and No. 33 selections in 1998, and a 1999 first-rounder. Those picks became Andre Wadsworth, Corey Chavous and David Boston. Not every piece became a star, but the Cardinals diversified one premium asset into multiple starters while the quarterback selected by San Diego became an historic bust.
Philadelphia moved from No. 84 to No. 71 and selected Duce Staley, giving Arizona an additional sixth-round pick to make the jump. Staley became a long-time Eagles running back and finished his career with 5,785 rushing yards. Arizona selected Ty Howard at No. 84 and Tony McCombs at No. 188; neither approached Staley's impact. Philadelphia's targeted move up produced the decisive player in the deal.
Kansas City moved up 26 spots in the fifth round and selected Joe Horn at No. 135, while Arizona received Nos. 161 and 162. Horn became a four-time Pro Bowler with 603 receptions, 8,744 yards and 58 touchdowns. Arizona's two selections produced almost no NFL return, making this one of the clearest late-round value wins in the batch.
Minnesota moved up from No. 112 and added No. 137 to obtain Arizona's No. 97 pick, selecting tight end Hunter Goodwin. Arizona used the two incoming choices on center Aaron Graham and tackle James Dexter. Goodwin became a long-tenured NFL blocking tight end, so Minnesota did receive value, but Graham and Dexter combined for substantially more starts and useful line play. Arizona's two-player return earns the narrow win.
The Jets traded franchise-tagged receiver Rob Moore to Arizona on April 21, 1995 for running back Ronald Moore plus picks No. 16 and No. 106. New York selected Hugh Douglas at No. 16, and he immediately won Defensive Rookie of the Year. Rob Moore became a productive Cardinal, but the Jets received a broader package with both premium capital and impact defensive production.
Seattle acquired wide receiver Ricky Proehl from Arizona on April 3, 1995, for a fourth-round selection, No. 106 overall. Proehl gave the Seahawks two seasons of useful veteran receiving depth before continuing a long NFL career elsewhere. The cost was modest Day 3 capital, making Seattle the side that realized the clearer direct football return.
Arizona Cardinals received 1995 7th round pick (212th overall, Billy Williams) in the exchange with Washington Commanders. The seventh-round selection did not become a comparable Cardinals contributor. Arizona received draft capital, but the direct football value tied to Williams was minimal. The D grade reflects the direct value Arizona Cardinals realized from the deal, while the Washington Commanders Win call weighs actual regular-season service and clearly connected draft value rather than name recognition alone.
Arizona Cardinals received 1994 4th round pick (107th overall, Perry Carter) in the 1994-04-25 exchange with New England Patriots. Perry Carter never appeared in a game for Arizona and had only a short NFL career elsewhere, so the Cardinals did not capture comparable value from the higher pick. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Arizona Cardinals surrendered, the result supports New England Patriots Win and a D+ grade for Arizona Cardinals.
Miami packaged picks No. 89, No. 115 and No. 121 to Arizona for the No. 65 selection in the 1994 draft and used it on center Tim Ruddy. Ruddy played 156 NFL games, started 140 and spent his entire career with Miami, giving the Dolphins long-term stability in the middle of the offensive line.
Arizona acquired defensive back James Williams from Buffalo in March 1994 for a 1995 fourth-round selection. Williams played 15 games for the Cardinals that season and provided useful short-term defensive depth. Buffalo used the returned No. 113 pick on Justin Armour, who remained in the NFL for multiple seasons and produced the longer downstream contribution from the exchanged asset.
Arizona received a conditional fifth-round selection that ultimately became No. 135, Pat O'Neill. The pick carried real transaction value, but O'Neill did not become a significant NFL contributor. The Cardinals therefore realized only modest long-term football return from the exchange. That limited outcome closely matches what the Rams received from Ernie Jones and supports a balanced grade rather than a clear winner.
The Jets moved from No. 3 to No. 4 in the 1993 draft, receiving running back Johnny Johnson while Arizona moved up for Garrison Hearst. New York used No. 4 on linebacker Marvin Jones, who became a long-time Jets starter, and Johnson immediately supplied offensive production. Hearst later became a Pro Bowler, but much of his best work came after Arizona, giving the Jets the stronger realized return.
Phoenix moved from No. 20 to No. 18 in the 1993 first round, sending San Francisco No. 20 and No. 116. The Cardinals selected tackle Ernest Dye. San Francisco immediately flipped No. 20 to New Orleans for No. 26 and No. 81, then drafted Dana Stubblefield at No. 26 while also owning No. 116. Stubblefield's impact makes this a decisive 49ers win.
Phoenix sent defensive back Jay Taylor to Kansas City in April 1993 for the eighth-round selection later used on Stevie Anderson. Taylor played 31 games over two Chiefs seasons, making five starts and intercepting two passes. Phoenix released Anderson before the 1993 season, so the acquired pick did not produce an immediate Cardinals regular-season contribution.
Tampa Bay sent defensive lineman Reuben Davis to Arizona on October 13, 1992, for a 1993 third-round pick that became No. 60 and Lamar Thomas. Davis then played 27 games for the Cardinals with 20 starts over the next two seasons. Thomas appeared in 36 Tampa Bay games but started only twice and caught 25 passes, giving Arizona the stronger direct return.
Arizona Cardinals received 1992 sixth round pick (#146-Brian Brauninger) from Green Bay Packers. Phoenix received the 1992 sixth-round selection used on Brian Brauninger, but that choice did not create comparable Cardinals NFL value. That outcome supports a D grade for Arizona Cardinals when the trade is measured by the football value actually realized after the exchange.
Phoenix Cardinals received Danny Villa from New England Patriots, giving up 1992 6th round pick (#145-Larry Tharpe). The acquired return is specifically 1992 sixth-round selection No. 145. The return supports a C+ grade because the value directly tied to this deal fits that mark. The final verdict is New England Patriots Win.
New England moved from No. 46 to No. 35 in the 1992 second round, sending Phoenix the later second-round pick plus No. 100. The Patriots selected defensive back Rod Smith. Phoenix used its two selections on Tony Sacca and Michael Bankston. Bankston became a long-term Cardinals starter, while Smith's New England impact remained much more limited.
Miami sent running back Sammie Smith to Phoenix in September 1991 and received the Cardinals' 1992 first-round selection. That pick became No. 7 overall, which Miami used on cornerback Troy Vincent. Vincent immediately became a full-time starter and spent four seasons with the Dolphins, turning the exchange into a major upgrade after Smith's difficult Miami tenure.
New Orleans sent cornerback Robert Massey to Phoenix on August 19, 1991 for offensive lineman Derek Kennard and a 1992 fifth-round selection. Kennard became a regular Saints starter, including all 16 games in both 1992 and 1993, while the extra pick later became part of another draft move. Massey started extensively for Phoenix and intercepted five passes in 1992, including three returned for touchdowns.
Phoenix traded running back Terrence Flagler to San Francisco on August 12, 1991, for a conditional draft choice that was not ultimately exercised. Flagler was cut by the 49ers later that month and soon returned to Phoenix, so the Cardinals received no draft asset and quickly regained the player. The unusual sequence left Phoenix with little lasting gain or loss.
Arizona received the 1992 ninth-round choice at No. 239 and used it on Tyrone Williams. A ninth-round selection carried limited expected value, and its eventual return did not match the meaningful starting work Young supplied to New York. The D+ grade reflects that realized football value and the complete supported package, while the overall verdict is New York Jets Win.
Arizona Cardinals received 1991 eighth round pick (#198-Greg Amsler). Arizona received the 1991 eighth-round choice that became No. 198 Greg Amsler. The late-round selection did not develop into meaningful Cardinals regular-season value. Because Denver obtained usable defensive-line production from David Galloway, Arizona's return lands on the weaker side of the exchange despite the relatively low acquisition cost. That result supports a D+ grade for Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals received 1991 eighth round pick (#209-Scott Evans). Arizona received the 1991 eighth-round choice used on Scott Evans. The selection did not produce comparable NFL value for the Cardinals, leaving the club with a limited return from moving Rob Awalt. The cost was not premium draft capital, but the football outcome still fell short of the two seasons of useful tight-end work Dallas received. That result supports a D+ grade for Arizona Cardinals.
San Diego acquired guard Mike Zandofsky from Phoenix in August 1990 for a late 1991 draft choice. Chargers records show Zandofsky became a useful multi-year interior lineman, appearing throughout the next four seasons and starting all 16 games in 1993. The Cardinals recovered late draft capital, but its downstream identity is uncertain and did not match the known Chargers production. San Diego wins with a B to C result.
Cincinnati acquired cornerback Carl Carter from Phoenix on August 21, 1990 for linebacker Chris Chenault. Carter immediately played 15 games and started 11 at right corner for the Bengals. Chenault, by contrast, did not make the Cardinals’ regular-season roster and was waived at final cuts in early September. A straightforward player-for-player swap therefore produced a full season of starting value for Cincinnati and almost none for Phoenix.
Arizona received tight end Dave Little. His acquisition provided the Cardinals with the more direct player return, and the available career record supports a small edge over Denver's late-round selection rather than a large or franchise-changing advantage. The C+ grade reflects that realized football value and the complete supported package, while the overall verdict is Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals Win.
Arizona Cardinals
Seattle sent center Kevin Thomas to Phoenix on August 7, 1989, for a conditional 1990 draft choice. Seattle’s own transaction history says the trade criteria were not met, so the pick never became usable draft capital. Thomas was then waived by Phoenix later that month, leaving both clubs with almost no lasting football value from the move.
Arizona Cardinals received 1990 twelfth round pick (#330-Ken McMichel). Arizona received the 1990 twelfth-round choice used on Ken McMichel. That deep-round selection did not produce meaningful Cardinals regular-season value, while the player Arizona surrendered became an important specialist in Denver. The low draft cost softens the loss, but the realized result was still far below the value David Treadwell created for the Broncos. That result supports a D grade for Arizona Cardinals.
Buffalo acquired safety Leonard Smith from Phoenix in September 1988 for cornerback Roland Mitchell and a 1989 sixth-round pick. Smith became an immediate starter and played 60 games with 59 starts over four Bills seasons, recording eight interceptions while helping anchor the secondary during Buffalo's rise to four straight Super Bowls.
Arizona Cardinals received Ricky Hunley in the deal with Denver Broncos. Hunley appeared in 16 Cardinals games without a start in 1988 and recorded one sack. Arizona received one season of reserve linebacker work. That outcome supports a C for Arizona Cardinals. The Even Trade verdict weighs documented games, starts, production and connected draft value.
Cleveland acquired veteran defensive end Al 'Bubba' Baker from the Cardinals in September 1987 for a 1988 fifth-round pick that became No. 132, Tony Jordan. The Browns bought immediate pass-rush experience, while Arizona converted a veteran into future draft capital. Neither return became a franchise-changing asset, but the Cardinals' retained pick value gives them a narrow edge.
San Diego acquired defensive back Tim Lucas from the Cardinals on June 22, 1987 for an eleventh-round choice in the 1988 draft. Chargers historical records support that date rather than the July date carried in the current entry. Lucas did not become a meaningful regular-season contributor in San Diego, while the Cardinals at least recovered a late selection. Arizona receives a restrained C+ to D+ win.
Miami moved up from No. 70 to No. 56 in the 1987 draft, sending St. Louis the third-round choice plus No. 126. The Dolphins selected receiver and returner Scott Schwedes, who played 46 NFL games and contributed on offense and special teams. The Cardinals used their picks on Colin Scotts and John Bruno, who combined for little sustained NFL value. Miami obtained the only meaningful multi-year contributor.
Arizona received the 1987 selection that became No. 127 Ilia Jarostchuk. That draft return did not develop into a comparable long-term contribution, leaving St. Louis with little realized football value from the exchange. The D+ grade reflects the limited payoff from the pick compared with the productive seasons Lionel Washington supplied after joining the Raiders.
New York acquired Ottis Anderson from the St. Louis Cardinals for two 1987 draft choices, later identified as the second-round pick used on Scott Schwedes and the seventh-round pick used on William Harris. Anderson initially served as depth, then became a key starter and Super Bowl XXV MVP. The two-pick cost proved modest compared with his championship impact, giving the Giants a decisive long-term win.
Arizona Cardinals received Rick DiBernardo from Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sending 1987 twelfth round pick (#313-Mike Shula) the other way. Louis with a full 1986 season, while Shula did not produce NFL playing value, making the Cardinals' side modestly better in hindsight. That outcome supports a B- grade for Arizona Cardinals, and the overall verdict is Arizona Cardinals Win.
Indianapolis acquired linebacker Dave Ahrens from St. Louis on August 27, 1985, for a 1986 tenth-round pick. Ahrens appeared in 44 regular-season games for the Colts over three seasons and started 10 games in 1986. St. Louis used the No. 255 selection on receiver Wes Smith, who played only one NFL game. Indianapolis converted a late pick into substantially more usable roster value and wins the exchange.
Green Bay traded quarterback Scott Brunner to the Cardinals and received the 1986 sixth-round pick used on linebacker Burnell Dent. Dent became a meaningful NFL contributor after the selection, giving the Packers a durable return from a late-round asset. That outcome was stronger than the brief role Brunner filled for the Cardinals and supports a B grade for Green Bay.
The Cardinals sent Eddie McGill to Indianapolis on July 23, 1985 for a conditional 1986 twelfth-round pick. The condition was not exercised, leaving St. Louis without a realized draft selection, while McGill did not produce meaningful regular-season value for the Colts. With neither side converting the transaction into a lasting contribution, the practical outcome was essentially neutral.
Atlanta moved up in the 1985 second round and acquired the 45th overall pick from St. Louis, using it on defensive end Mike Gann. The Falcons sent No. 51 and No. 116 to the Cardinals. Gann then started every regular-season game he played for Atlanta, finishing with 118 starts across nine seasons. That durable defensive-line production made the move up exceptionally productive for the Falcons.
St. Louis acquired veteran linebacker Thomas Howard from Kansas City on September 1, 1984 for the seventh-round choice that became No. 185 in the 1985 draft. Howard stepped directly into the Cardinals’ defense, playing 15 games with 13 starts in 1984 and adding two interceptions and a fumble-return touchdown. He appeared in three more games in 1985 before his NFL career ended.
Atlanta Falcons received undisclosed draft pick, while Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals received John Harper. St. Louis acquired linebacker John Harper from Atlanta for an undisclosed draft choice. Harper had played 13 games as an Atlanta rookie in 1983 but did not record regular-season service for the Cardinals, so the known on-field return favored Atlanta's receipt of draft consideration, even though the exact selection is unresolved. That outcome supports a C+ grade for Atlanta Falcons, a D+ for Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals, and a Atlanta Falcons Win verdict.
San Francisco acquired the No. 73 pick from St. Louis in the 1984 draft for Nos. 80 and 136. The 49ers used No. 73 on guard Guy McIntyre, who became a five-time Pro Bowler and a fixture on multiple championship teams. St. Louis selected Rick McIvor and John Goode with the return, neither of whom approached McIntyre’s sustained impact. San Francisco won decisively.
Detroit acquired Mike Dawson and the 1984 third-round pick that became No. 62 Eric Williams from St. Louis for Al 'Bubba' Baker, identified as the outgoing player the next day. Baker delivered several productive pass-rush seasons for the Cardinals, while Detroit received useful but lesser aggregate value. Removing an unrelated eighth-round pick clarifies the Cardinals' modest hindsight advantage.
St. Louis traded safety Ken Greene to San Diego on May 2, 1983 for the Chargers' 1984 third- and eighth-round picks. Greene played 31 games for San Diego and started nine in 1983. The Cardinals used the eighth-rounder on Niko Noga, a multi-year starter, while the third-round asset was later included in the Al Baker trade and became No. 62. St. Louis created the stronger overall return.
San Francisco and St. Louis exchanged George Collins and Dan Audick in April 1983. Each club received a veteran player who offered depth, but neither side generated a lasting value advantage or meaningful downstream asset. With the transaction limited to the two players and the post-trade outcomes remaining close, an even C/C grade best reflects the modest result.
Arizona acquired veteran defensive end Elois Grooms from New Orleans for a 1983 third-round pick that became running back Cliff Austin at No. 66. Grooms started 26 games for the Cardinals from 1982 through 1984 and recorded 7.5 sacks in those three seasons. Austin spent only his 1983 rookie year with the Saints and produced 41 yards from scrimmage, giving Arizona the much stronger direct return.
St. Louis sent Buffalo the 1982 fourth-round pick used on Van Williams and received Buffalo's 1983 third-rounder. The Cardinals quickly flipped that future choice to New Orleans for veteran defensive end Elois Grooms. Grooms started 26 games for St. Louis from 1982 through 1984 and produced 7.5 sacks in that span, giving the Cardinals a slight edge over Williams' useful return work for Buffalo.
Kansas City moved up from No. 16 to No. 11 in the 1982 first round, sending St. Louis the No. 16 pick plus No. 73. The Chiefs selected receiver Anthony Hancock, while the Cardinals used No. 16 on tackle Luis Sharpe. Hancock totaled 73 career catches; Sharpe started 189 games and made three Pro Bowls. St. Louis won decisively.
Seattle acquired running back Theotis Brown from the Cardinals on October 13, 1981, for two fourth-round choices: No. 90 in 1982, used on Tootie Robbins, and No. 96 in 1983, used on Mark Duda. Brown immediately became a featured runner in Seattle and produced meaningful offense during the remainder of the 1981 season.
St. Louis received $100 from Chicago for Jeff Lee. The amount was tiny even for a minor transaction, but it was the only realized return in the deal because Lee was released by the Bears before the 1981 regular season. The Cardinals therefore received a tangible, if negligible, asset while surrendering no player production that Chicago ultimately realized.
Arizona Cardinals received 1982 fifth round pick (#125-Earl Ferrell). Arizona received the 1982 fifth-round choice identified as No. 125, Earl Ferrell. Ferrell became a multi-year Cardinals contributor, giving the franchise lasting value from a relatively modest future pick. Compared with Washington Commanders' return, the result supports a A- grade and fits the Arizona Cardinals Win verdict.
Arizona Cardinals received 1980 eighth round pick (#211-Grant Hudson) and 1981 tenth round pick (#263-Jim Joiner). The Cardinals received an eighth-round choice that became Grant Hudson and a tenth-round choice that became Jim Joiner. Neither selection produced NFL regular-season value for the franchise. Denver converted two late selections into the only meaningful regular-season production in the exchange, giving the Broncos a clear but appropriately measured win. That outcome supports a D+ grade for Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals acquired cornerback Tim Collier from Kansas City on February 16, 1980 for a fifth-round pick, No. 115. Collier played 30 games for St. Louis over three seasons, started 11 and intercepted three passes. Kansas City used the selection on defensive tackle Dan Pensick, but the pick did not develop into comparable Chiefs production. The Cardinals received useful defensive service at a modest cost.
Arizona Cardinals
On 1979-06-06, Arizona Cardinals received Tom Brzoza, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers received undisclosed draft pick. The hindsight verdict is Arizona Cardinals Win, with Arizona Cardinals graded B- and Tampa Bay Buccaneers graded C+. The evaluation credits only the consideration that can be traced confidently and keeps uncertain pick details out of the final judgment.
St. Louis moved down four spots in the second round and added a fifth-round pick, selecting linebacker Calvin Favron at No. 46 and running back Mark Bell at No. 130. Favron played 50 games with 21 starts for the Cardinals, while Bell made a smaller contribution. The package produced useful depth and starting snaps.
Kansas City sent linebacker Jimbo Elrod to the St. Louis Cardinals in April 1979 for the eighth-round selection used on Robert Brewer. Brewer did not become a meaningful regular-season contributor for the Chiefs, while Elrod did not establish a durable Cardinals role before later appearing for Houston. Neither receiving club converted the exchange into sustained team-specific production.
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals received the 1979 eighth-round selection at No. 218 for Jerry Latin. The Cardinals later moved that pick to Kansas City, so their direct benefit was the draft currency rather than the player eventually selected there. The asset retained some value, but it did not produce a stronger direct return than Latin gave Los Angeles, supporting a C+.
On 1978-08-27, Arizona Cardinals received Jim Thaxton (James Ivory Thaxton), while New Orleans Saints received 1979 seventh round pick (selection not identified). The hindsight verdict is Even Trade, with Arizona Cardinals graded C and New Orleans Saints graded C. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while treating conditional terms and later draft outcomes as context rather than as assets exchanged directly on trade day.
St. Louis acquired defensive end Bob Pollard and guard Terry Stieve from New Orleans. Stieve arrived as a young lineman with starting experience, while Pollard provided veteran defensive help, giving the Cardinals two usable roster pieces in one transaction. New Orleans also received meaningful veterans, but the combination of age, role, and depth gave St. Louis a narrow edge.
Arizona Cardinals received Marv Kellum, while Pittsburgh Steelers received 1978 eighth round pick (#208-Rick Moser). Pittsburgh traded linebacker Marv Kellum to St. That return earns a C+ grade for Arizona Cardinals, and the overall verdict is Pittsburgh Steelers Win. The grade stays proportional to the direct value each club realized from this exchange.
St. Louis acquired defensive back Carl Allen from Cincinnati for a future eleventh-round pick, which the Bengals used at No. 293 on Calvin Prince. Allen became a long-term Cardinals starter, appearing in 79 games with 57 starts and 16 interceptions from 1977 through 1982. Cincinnati did not receive comparable production from the late selection.
Arizona sent Clarence Duren to the Chargers in June 1977 and received a future 1978 fourth-round pick that became No. 96 and George Collins. The Cardinals converted the player into a meaningful mid-round draft asset, while Duren's Chargers return was more limited. Arizona therefore owns the better side of the trade once the transaction identifiers reflect only the real two-asset package.
St. Louis Cardinals received Neal Craig in the 1977-05-04 exchange with Cleveland Browns, giving up 1977 seventh round pick (#189-Bob Lingenfelter). St. Louis acquired safety Neal Craig in exchange for a seventh-round selection. That return supports a C grade for St. Louis Cardinals. The final verdict is Cleveland Browns Win, based on the football value tied directly to the assets in this deal.
The Cardinals received defensive back Perry Smith when they sent Terdell Middleton's rights to Green Bay. Smith gave St. Louis a veteran return, but his value did not approach Middleton's later production for the Packers, including a 1,116-yard rushing season. The Cardinals still received a legitimate NFL player, so a C grade reflects a usable but clearly inferior return.
Atlanta acquired guard Greg Kindle and the 1977 first-round choice that became defensive lineman Wilson Faumuina for veteran defensive end John Zook. Kindle's stay was brief, but Faumuina gave the Falcons five seasons and 74 games. That combination supplied Atlanta with more total value than Zook's four solid seasons in St. Louis, though the margin was not overwhelming.
Tampa Bay acquired veteran linebacker Pete Barnes from the St. Louis Cardinals on August 6, 1976, initially sending defensive back John Fuller in return. Fuller failed his Cardinals physical and was returned to Tampa on August 20, with a 1977 draft choice substituted as the consideration. Barnes did not make Tampa Bay’s regular-season roster, while St. Louis retained future draft capital.
New Orleans acquired defensive tackle Steve George from St. Louis in late July 1976 for an undisclosed choice in the 1977 NFL draft. George never appeared in a Saints regular-season game; he went to injured reserve in August, was released, and later played one game for Atlanta. St. Louis therefore recovered draft capital for a player who produced no regular-season value for New Orleans.
St. Louis acquired linebacker Al Beauchamp from Cincinnati in June 1976 and surrendered a future fourth-round choice. Beauchamp appeared in all 14 Cardinals games that season but did not start. Cincinnati later used the returned selection on Jerry Anderson, who played 14 games with one start as a rookie and only 16 NFL games overall, leaving both clubs with limited team-specific production.
On 1976-06-11, Arizona Cardinals received draft pick (selection not identified), while Green Bay Packers received Earl Thomas (Lewis). The hindsight verdict is Green Bay Packers Win, with Arizona Cardinals graded C+ and Green Bay Packers graded B. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while keeping unverified downstream pick identities or conditional outcomes out of the final judgment.
The St. Louis Cardinals, represented here by the franchise's modern Arizona identity, traded running back Eddie Moss to Chicago on May 19, 1976, for a future draft choice. Contemporary reports did not publish the round, and a durable downstream pick outcome is not established. Moss was released by Chicago in July and never played a regular-season game for the Bears.
St. Louis acquired Mike Sensibaugh and Marvin Upshaw from Kansas City for safety Tim Gray in April 1976. Sensibaugh became a useful Cardinals secondary contributor and provided regular starting work, while Upshaw added short-term roster depth. Kansas City received the strongest single performer in Gray, but St. Louis still obtained meaningful value across the two veterans it acquired.
Denver sent defensive back Jeff Severson to the Cardinals on April 9, 1976 for the ninth-round pick used on Jim Lisko. Lisko never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Severson played both 1976 and 1977 for the Cardinals, totaling 28 games, three starts and an interception. The Cardinals therefore converted a ninth-round pick into useful depth and own the clear win.
St. Louis acquired linebacker Rodrigo Barnes from Miami for a 1976 twelfth-round choice. Barnes did not become a lasting Cardinals contributor and later appeared in five games for Oakland that season. With little realized value on the St. Louis side, the deal offered only a short-lived attempt to add veteran defensive help.
St. Louis acquired former No. 1 overall pick Walt Patulski while sending Buffalo the second-round choice used on Joe Devlin. Patulski did not establish a meaningful Cardinals career, while Devlin became a 13-season Bills fixture with 191 games and 179 starts. The enormous difference in longevity makes the Cardinals' gamble a costly one in hindsight.
Pittsburgh traded running back Charlie Davis to St. Louis for a 1976 sixth-round pick that became defensive lineman Gary Dunn. Dunn spent 12 seasons with the Steelers, played 146 games and made 105 starts, an exceptional return from pick No. 159. The Cardinals also received real value from Davis, who started 12 games in 1975 and remained with the club for multiple seasons. Pittsburgh wins, but St. Louis deserves meaningful credit.
Arizona Cardinals received conditional draft pick (selection not identified) from Green Bay Packers, while Green Bay Packers received Jim Germany in the 1975-09-09 deal. In hindsight, Arizona Cardinals's return did not separate far enough from Green Bay Packers to justify a higher grade. The final grades are C+ for Arizona Cardinals and C+ for Green Bay Packers, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.
Washington's signing of Dave Butz triggered a compensation settlement with St. Louis that sent the Cardinals first-round picks in 1977 and 1978 plus a 1979 second-rounder. Washington retained Butz and received lower selections in return. Butz then played 14 seasons, appeared in 203 games and became a defensive pillar on two Washington Super Bowl championship teams.
Arizona Cardinals received undisclosed draft pick (possibly 1977 #135-Andy Spiva). Arizona received an undisclosed future draft choice, possibly the 1977 No. 135 selection associated with Andy Spiva. The exact pick identity remains qualified, and the possible selection did not produce Cardinals regular-season value. That leaves Arizona with a limited return compared with the twelve games New England received from Durwood Keeton in 1975. That result supports a D+ grade for Arizona Cardinals.
St. Louis received Greg Wojcik; Chicago received Wes Miller. The swap is well documented, but neither return produced meaningful long-term value for the acquiring club. St. Louis released Wojcik in September, and Miller did not become a notable regular-season contributor for Chicago. The hindsight grades are C- for Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals and C- for Chicago Bears, producing a Even Trade verdict.
St. Louis acquired Marlin Briscoe and Hubie Ginn from Miami, while the Dolphins received Donny Anderson plus separate compensation tied to tight end Jim McFarland. The principal pieces produced little for their new clubs: Briscoe was moved again before the season, and Anderson retired in August without playing for Miami. The limited realized value makes this effectively even.
Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals received no lasting player value because Iman failed the physical. The transaction therefore produced no usable roster return for St. Louis. The D grade reflects only value tied directly to this transaction, including production or draft value the club itself controlled. Against Los Angeles Rams, that supported return leads to the final verdict of Even Trade.
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals received Washington's 1976 fifteenth-round selection at No. 420 for the rights to Ray Parson and used it on Lee Nelson. Nelson became a ten-season defensive back for the franchise, appearing in 135 games with 64 starts. Turning a distant late-round pick into that much sustained service is exceptional value and earns the Cardinals an A.
St. Louis acquired veteran defensive back Ken Reaves from New Orleans on October 17, 1974 for the 1975 fourth-round choice that became Charlie Hall at No. 99. Reaves immediately joined the Cardinals and remained there through 1977, intercepting eight passes for St. Louis over those seasons. New Orleans converted the pick into Hall, but the selected player did not match the multi-season defensive contribution Reaves supplied the Cardinals. That balance of realized value gives the edge to Arizona Cardinals / St. Louis Cardinals.
St. Louis acquired receiver Earl Thomas. Chicago received Wayne Mulligan, Cliff McClain and the 1975 seventh-round pick used on Earl Douthitt. Thomas supplied the Cardinals two seasons of receiving depth, while the Bears received multiple assets for one player. Thomas gave St. Louis some immediate use, preventing this from being a poor deal. Chicago's three-piece return, including a future draft choice, created the better overall value profile even though none became a star.
St. Louis acquired linebacker Jim Sniadecki from San Francisco on August 7, 1974. The 49ers received the Cardinals' 1975 ninth-round selection and used it on tackle Caesar Douglas. Sniadecki gave the Cardinals an established linebacker, while San Francisco recovered a late-round future asset. The direct outcomes remain modest enough to support only a narrow St. Louis edge.
Arizona Cardinals received $200 cash. St. Louis received $200 in cash, a nominal return that carried little direct football significance for the Cardinals. That outcome supports a D grade because the return is measured by the direct football value Arizona Cardinals actually received after the deal, compared with the asset sent the other way.
St. Louis acquired Cliff McClain, but his Cardinals return did not match the contribution New York received from Jamie Rivers. The D grade reflects the limited realized value on the St. Louis side after surrendering Rivers and Roger Bernhardt. With Rivers starting sixteen games across two Jets seasons, New York received the more useful outcome from the exchange.
St. Louis Cardinals received Ken Willard in the 1974-05-06 exchange with San Francisco 49ers. Ken Willard gave St. Louis a veteran back, but the move came late in his career and did not produce enough sustained value to outweigh the three selections surrendered. The direct package is the basis for the hindsight grade, with later movement of an acquired selection treated separately. That supports San Francisco 49ers Win.
Washington acquired veteran Fred Sturt from St. Louis for Jimmie Jones plus two draft selections: 1975 No. 178 Earl Douthitt and 1976 No. 141 Wayne Morris. The No. 178 pick later moved again, but that separate Cardinals-Bears deal was not part of Washington's payment. The Cardinals received the broader package and retain the slight value edge.
Arizona Cardinals received Dennis Shaw. Dennis Shaw played only sparingly for St. Louis across the 1974 and 1975 seasons, limiting the Cardinals' return from the quarterback they acquired. That outcome supports a D+ grade because the return is measured by the direct football value Arizona Cardinals actually received after the deal, compared with the asset sent the other way.
New Orleans acquired defensive end Andy Dorris from St. Louis for the 1975 eighth-round pick used on John Adams. Dorris became a meaningful Saints contributor, playing 42 games from 1974 through 1976 and starting 21 of them. Adams never appeared in an NFL regular-season game, so the Saints received far more realized football value from the exchange.
The Jets traded Hall of Fame receiver Don Maynard to St. Louis on Sept. 10, 1973 for a future draft choice that became the 1974 eleventh-round pick, No. 267 William Buckley. Maynard's name was enormous, but his remaining NFL production was tiny: one catch for 18 yards in two Cardinals games. The Jets' pick also produced no meaningful return, leaving the exchange essentially even.
Arizona Cardinals: St. Louis converted the pick into Ike Harris, who later delivered three productive Cardinals seasons and posted 52 catches for 782 yards in 1976. The B+ grade reflects only value tied directly to this transaction, including production or draft value the club itself controlled. Against Detroit Lions, that supported return leads to the final verdict of Arizona Cardinals Win.
St. Louis acquired running back Willie Belton from Buffalo for a 1974 tenth-round pick that became Art Cameron. Belton appeared in three games for the Cardinals in 1973 and five more in 1974, giving St. Louis at least some backfield service. Cameron did not produce an NFL regular-season career for Buffalo. The return was modest on both sides, but the Cardinals received the only documented game-day value.
St. Louis received four 1973 games from Andy Dorris and later retained enough value to trade him again. That modest but real return beats Cleveland's non-playing draft selection. The grade remains tied to documented value for the acquiring club, without assigning credit for unresolved or hypothetical downstream consideration.
Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos exchanged 1974 tenth round pick (#251-Greg Hartle) for Dale Hackbart. Hackbart had been a long-time NFL defender, but his Denver stay was brief. The important comparison is longevity and realized roster value. In hindsight, Arizona Cardinals 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.
St. Louis Cardinals received Frank Patrick in the 1973-05-25 exchange with Green Bay Packers, giving up Rocky Wallace. St. Louis acquired Frank Patrick in exchange for linebacker Rocky Wallace. That return supports a C grade for St. Louis Cardinals. The final verdict is Even Trade, based on the football value tied directly to the assets in this deal.
Arizona received Roger Finnie, who became a durable Cardinals starter and gave the franchise sustained offensive-line value. His longevity and regular role made him the defining asset in the transaction and gave Arizona a clear advantage once the careers of the exchanged pieces were known. That result supports a A- grade within the Arizona Cardinals Win verdict.
St. Louis acquired defensive back Jim Tolbert from Houston for linebackers Mike McGill and Jim Hargrove on April 24, 1973. Tolbert immediately started 13 games for the Cardinals and remained there for three seasons, while McGill and Hargrove did not record an NFL season after 1972. That direct post-trade production makes the Cardinals the clear winner.
Cincinnati Bengals received undisclosed draft pick (selection not identified) from Arizona Cardinals, while Arizona Cardinals received Willie Jones/Willie Lee Jones in the 1973-04-11 deal. In hindsight, Cincinnati Bengals's return did not separate far enough from Arizona Cardinals to justify a higher grade. The final grades are B- for Cincinnati Bengals and B- for Arizona Cardinals, producing a verdict of Even Trade. The rating reflects the documented package, the certainty of the consideration, and the football value that can actually be assigned in hindsight.
St. Louis Cardinals received Mike Taylor in the 1973-03-10 exchange with Philadelphia Eagles, giving up Steve Wright. St. Louis acquired offensive tackle Mike Taylor in the one-for-one exchange. That return supports a C grade for St. Louis Cardinals. The final verdict is Even Trade, based on the football value tied directly to the assets in this deal.
St. Louis acquired Jim Butler, but his post-trade Cardinals service was limited compared with the player sent to Atlanta. Butler did not match Chuck Walker's four-season Falcons run or his 47 games of service. The Cardinals therefore received some identifiable value, but not enough to keep pace with Atlanta's more durable return.
Arizona received Paul Gipson and the 1973 sixth-round selection that became No. 148 Phil Andre. The historical record does not show that either asset developed into a lasting advantage for the Cardinals. With Detroit likewise receiving only limited long-term value from Rick Ogle, Arizona's C grade reflects a modest return that was neither a clear loss nor a meaningful win.
Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons exchanged Billy Taylor for undisclosed draft pick (selection not identified). Atlanta had already invested a 1970 fourth-round pick in Taylor, but he never developed into durable Falcons value. The unidentified pick keeps the ceiling low for Atlanta because no downstream career can be credited. In hindsight, Atlanta Falcons 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.
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals received Jeff Staggs, 1973 third round pick (#63-Terry Metcalf) in the 1972-08-12 exchange with Los Angeles Rams. St. Louis acquired linebacker Jeff Staggs and the 1973 third-round choice that became Terry Metcalf for quarterback Pete Beathard. The documented result supports a A- grade for Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals. The overall verdict is Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals Win, based on realized value rather than hypothetical upside.
St. Louis acquired Steve Wright and John Hoffman from Chicago for a 1973 fourth-round choice that became pick No. 84. Wright appeared in five games with four starts for the Cardinals, while Hoffman played only two games with one start. Chicago used the draft value in the Steve DeLong transaction, and DeLong started all 14 Bears games in 1972.
Arizona Cardinals received Bill Atessis in the deal with New England Patriots. Bill Atessis did not play a regular-season game for the Cardinals after the deal and was released in September 1972. That result supports a F for Arizona Cardinals. The New England Patriots Win verdict weighs the documented service and usable draft value each side actually realized from the exchange.
Minnesota sent quarterback Gary Cuozzo to St. Louis in 1972 for John Gilliam plus 1973 second- and fourth-round choices. Gilliam immediately produced four strong Vikings seasons, the second-rounder became Jackie Wallace, and Minnesota later used the fourth-round asset to obtain punter Mike Eischeid. Cuozzo struggled in his lone Cardinals season. The volume and quality of Minnesota’s return make this a decisive Vikings win.
St. Louis Cardinals received Ray Parson in the 1972-04-14 exchange with Detroit Lions. Parson did not produce value for St. Louis comparable to what Detroit realized from Schmiesing and his later trade return. Against Detroit Lions' return of Joe Schmiesing, that outcome supports a C grade. The transaction is judged Detroit Lions Win, with the mark tied to the football value that actually followed from the deal.
Arizona Cardinals received Joe O'Donnell, while Buffalo Bills received Irv Goode. Joe O'Donnell retired rather than play for St. Louis after the trade. The Cardinals likewise failed to turn their return into meaningful on-field production. In hindsight, that direct return supports a D grade for Arizona Cardinals. The grade reflects realized football value from this exchange rather than reputation alone.
Arizona Cardinals received Donny Anderson while Green Bay Packers received MacArthur Lane. The Cardinals received Donny Anderson, who delivered strong rushing, receiving, and touchdown production over multiple seasons after the swap. St. Louis obtained a versatile veteran back who became a meaningful part of its offense rather than a short-term stop. That outcome supports a B+ grade for Arizona Cardinals in this trade.
Arizona Cardinals received Walker Gillette and Leon Burns; Gillette started 22 games across two St. Louis seasons with 53 catches for 794 yards and three touchdowns, while Burns had 69 rushing yards and two scores in his lone Cardinals season. The team earns a C+, compared with B for Los Angeles Chargers, and the hindsight verdict is Los Angeles Chargers Win. That judgment reflects the concrete team-specific production, role and tenure created by the assets in this deal.
On 1971-10-20, Arizona Cardinals received undisclosed draft pick (selection not identified), while Los Angeles Rams received Don Parish. The hindsight verdict is Los Angeles/Cleveland/St. Louis Rams Win, with Arizona Cardinals graded C+ and Los Angeles Rams graded B. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while treating conditional terms and later draft outcomes as context rather than as assets exchanged directly on trade day.
Minnesota acquired tight end Bob Brown and cornerback Nate Wright from St. Louis for Mike McGill, Dale Hackbart and a future fourth-round choice. Wright became the decisive asset: he developed into a durable starter for Minnesota’s championship-era defenses, while Brown supplied short-term depth. The Cardinals received only modest playing value from McGill and Hackbart, leaving Minnesota with the stronger realized return.
Minnesota acquired Mike LaHood from the St. Louis Cardinals in August 1971 and sent linebacker Jim Hargrove the other way. LaHood did not establish meaningful regular-season value for the Vikings, while Hargrove appeared for St. Louis in both 1971 and 1972. The Cardinals received the more useful player from the straight swap, earning a modest but clear win.
Arizona Cardinals received draft pick (possibly 1972 #250-Mike Franks / Mike Frank) (possibly 1972 #431-Bill Holland). The Cardinals received a draft choice, but the exact selection remains uncertain in the available historical material. That uncertainty limits how much value can be assigned to the return. Without a confidently identified pick or a clearly documented downstream result, Arizona's side stays conservative. That result supports a C grade for Arizona Cardinals.
St. Louis sent linebacker Dave Olerich to Houston for the 1972 fourth-round selection that became No. 84 overall and defensive lineman Martin Imhof. Olerich played all 14 games for the Oilers in 1971 but did not start, while Imhof started eight games for the Cardinals as a rookie in 1972. Neither became a long-term star, but St. Louis extracted the better direct return from the trade.
Arizona Cardinals received Mike LaHood, while Los Angeles Rams received John Wilbur. Mike LaHood also provided modest value after arriving in St. Louis. The Cardinals did not receive a return strong enough to create clear separation from the Rams. In hindsight, that direct return supports a C+ grade for Arizona Cardinals. The grade reflects realized football value from this exchange rather than reputation alone.
St. Louis acquired John Wilbur from Dallas for a 1971 third-round pick. Wilbur did not provide the Cardinals with the intended on-field return, leaving St. Louis with little realized value from the player side of the deal. Dallas used the incoming selection on Sam Scarber, who was not a major contributor, but the Cowboys still converted Wilbur into a defined third-round asset.
Denver acquired fullback Willis Crenshaw from St. Louis in 1970 for the 1971 third-round pick used on Jim Livesay at No. 61. Crenshaw played 12 games for the Broncos, rushing for 200 yards and five touchdowns while adding 105 receiving yards and another score. Livesay was drafted by the Cardinals but never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Denver received a useful season of production, giving the Broncos the clear edge.
St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans completed this trade on 1970-01-21. Farr immediately became a full-time Cardinals starter and intercepted five passes in 1970, then continued starting in 1971 and 1972. Houston received experienced players, but St. Louis secured the most durable high-level post-trade contribution. The post-trade results provide the clearest measure of what each club gained from the exchange. The historical return supports a St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals Win verdict, with St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals graded B+ and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans graded C+.
Arizona Cardinals
St. Louis acquired veteran King Hill from Minnesota for cash on September 10, 1969. Hill was not needed as a starting quarterback, but he appeared in all 14 Cardinals games and became the club’s primary punter, recording 73 punts for 2,746 yards and a 37.6-yard average. For a cash-only acquisition, that immediate special-teams role supplied useful value and gives the Cardinals a modest edge.
Arizona Cardinals received 1970 eighth round pick (#201-Mike Holmgren). The Cardinals received the 1970 eighth-round pick used on Mike Holmgren, who did not produce an NFL playing career. A full season of Goich clearly outweighs a draft selection that produced no NFL playing return, giving Detroit the edge. That outcome supports a D+ grade for Arizona Cardinals.
Minnesota acquired Chuck Logan from St. Louis for a high draft choice late in the 1969 preseason. Transaction history shows Logan joining the Vikings on August 27 and being released on October 7, with no meaningful Minnesota regular-season contribution established. Although the exact draft selection St. Louis received is not identified, surrendering high draft value for such a brief return tilts the deal toward the Cardinals.
The Cardinals received Philadelphia's 1970 sixth-round pick, No. 137, which became James Manuel, after sending defensive back Curtiss Gentry to the Eagles. Manuel never appeared in an NFL game, so St. Louis did not turn the selection into meaningful on-field value. The club retained draft capital, but the realized result supports a C- grade and leaves the Cardinals behind Philadelphia.
St. Louis acquired defensive back Curtis Gentry from Chicago for Bobby Lee and the 1970 sixth-round pick used on Jeff Curchin. Bears historical material shows Gentry’s NFL playing career had already ended after the 1968 season, so the Cardinals received no regular-season production from him. Chicago at least turned the pick into Curchin, who played 26 games and made four starts for the Bears across 1970 and 1971.
Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals received Dallas' 1970 fifth-round selection at No. 127 for veteran Bobby Joe Conrad and used it on Barry Pierson. Pierson did not establish a meaningful NFL career for St. Louis, so the Cardinals failed to turn the draft return into lasting value. With Dallas also receiving little from Conrad, St. Louis earns a D in an even low-impact trade.
St. Louis acquired John Gilliam from New Orleans and immediately unlocked a major offensive season: 52 catches, 997 yards, and nine touchdowns in 1969. The Cardinals paid Dave Long, Dick Kasperek, Brady Keys, and the second-round pick that became Richard Neal. Gilliam was clearly the best individual performer in the deal, but surrendering three veterans plus a second-rounder made the acquisition expensive.
Arizona Cardinals received cash, while Detroit Lions received Bobby Williams. St. Louis received cash rather than a player who could create comparable on-field value. The Cardinals therefore did not match the impact Williams later delivered in Detroit. In hindsight, that direct return supports a D grade for Arizona Cardinals. The grade reflects realized football value from this exchange rather than reputation alone.
St. Louis purchased defensive end Walter Johnson from San Francisco on September 4, 1968, leaving the 49ers with cash and the Cardinals with a former 1967 eighth-round pick. Johnson never appeared in a regular-season game for St. Louis and was released, while San Francisco at least converted a fringe roster asset into compensation. The modest but tangible return gives the 49ers the edge.
Arizona Cardinals received 1969 3rd round pick (73rd overall, Terry Brown) in the 1968-09-04 exchange with Detroit Lions. The Cardinals received the 1969 third-round pick used on Terry Brown, who supplied defensive and return-game value over two seasons. That return was substantial enough to balance Detroit's immediate gain. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Arizona Cardinals surrendered, the result supports Even Trade and a B- grade for Arizona Cardinals.
St. Louis Cardinals received cash in the 1968-09-03 exchange with Detroit Lions. St. Louis received cash, but the amount is not established in the researched record, limiting the ability to assign the Cardinals a meaningful advantage. Against Detroit Lions' return of Mike Campbell (a), that outcome supports a C- grade. The transaction is judged Even Trade, with the mark tied to the football value that actually followed from the deal.
St. Louis received an undisclosed 1969 draft pick for Charlie Bryant. The exact downstream selection remains unresolved, so the Cardinals retain credit for receiving future draft capital without assigning unsupported player value to it. Atlanta's documented production from Bryant gives the Falcons a slight edge, but uncertainty around the pick keeps the gap modest.
St. Louis added Wayne Trimble and Walter Johnson, also identified as Walter Clarke, from San Francisco, while the record lists cash going to the 49ers. Surviving player histories complicate the transaction because Trimble's move is also described as a waiver claim rather than a conventional cash trade. With the exact mechanism and downstream value uncertain, neither side has a documented advantage large enough to separate the exchange.
From St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals's side, the exchange delivered cash in return for Phil Spiller. Spiller started seven games for Atlanta before being released in late October, giving the Falcons tangible short-term value. That balance supports a C grade for St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals and a B- for Atlanta Falcons, with the final call at Atlanta Falcons Win.
New York acquired veteran defensive tackle Sam Silas from the St. Louis Cardinals on August 14, 1968 for its 1970 second-round draft choice, later used at No. 38 overall on guard Chuck Hutchison. Silas played all 14 games for the 1968 Giants and made two starts, giving New York one season of useful defensive-line depth before he moved on to San Francisco.
St. Louis Cardinals received Ernie Clark in the 1968-06-25 exchange with Detroit Lions. Clark did not match the sustained Cardinals value that Detroit received from Robb after the exchange. Against Detroit Lions' return of Joe Robb, that outcome supports a C grade. The transaction is judged Detroit Lions Win, with the mark tied to the football value that actually followed from the deal.
St. Louis acquired Lonnie Sanders from Washington for defensive back Jim Burson, whose historical references also use James and Jimmy Burson. Sanders immediately played 13 games, started 11, and intercepted three passes for the Cardinals in 1968. Burson was moved again and spent that season starting for Atlanta, leaving St. Louis with the clearer direct value from the original player-for-player exchange.
The Cardinals received the 1968 second-round choice at No. 42 and selected Bob Atkins. Atkins went on to play more than one hundred NFL games, making the transferred selection the most substantial and durable return in the deal. That outcome supports a B+ grade within the Arizona Cardinals Win verdict. The grade reflects realized football value rather than the size of the original package.
Arizona sent a 1968 fourth-round pick that became Don Fitzgerald and received Terry Nofsinger from Atlanta in the 1967 exchange. The pick produced no NFL regular-season value for Arizona, while Nofsinger appeared in seven games and started once for the Falcons. The return was modest, but Atlanta realized more usable football value and earns the better hindsight grade.
Atlanta acquired quarterback Terry Nofsinger from the St. Louis Cardinals in April 1967 for its 1968 fourth-round pick. Nofsinger appeared in seven games for the Falcons that season, starting once and passing for 352 yards with one touchdown.
New Orleans acquired veteran guard Herschel Turner from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 for an undisclosed future draft choice. The Saints' own 1967 roster book confirms the player-for-pick structure. Turner had played 27 games for St. Louis in 1964-65, but New Orleans released him on September 21, 1967 before he appeared in a Saints regular-season game.
St. Louis sent its 1968 third-round pick to Green Bay and received two fourth-round choices in the 1967 draft. The Cardinals gained two immediate selections and used them on Mike Barnes and Andy Bowling. Green Bay received the nominally higher future pick, but the player ultimately selected there, Billy Stevens, appeared in only three NFL games, keeping the practical returns on both sides modest.
New York and St. Louis exchanged veterans before the 1967 season, with running back Bill Triplett going to the Giants and linebacker Jerry Hillebrand going to the Cardinals. Contemporary reporting and later team histories identify a straight player-for-player trade. Triplett played 11 Giants games with four starts in 1967; Hillebrand appeared in all 14 Cardinals games.
St. Louis acquired linebacker Mike Strofolino from Baltimore for the 1967 eighth-round selection that became No. 202 overall. Strofolino appeared in 23 regular-season games for the Cardinals from 1966 through 1968 and started five in his final St. Louis season. That modest three-year contribution gave the Cardinals tangible roster value from a late-round draft asset.
Arizona Cardinals received draft pick (possibly 1967 #193-Mike Gold). The locked Wave 209 research supports the D grade after comparing the direct production and draft value attributable to this transaction. The evaluation excludes unrelated later moves and unsupported assumptions. Against Detroit Lions, that documented return supports the final verdict of Detroit Lions Win.
St. Louis acquired defensive lineman Fred Heron from Green Bay in the 1966 deal and, after the related 1967 pick settlement, also received Green Bay’s fourth-round selection at No. 105. Heron became a seven-season Cardinal, playing 79 games with 56 starts. The Cardinals gave up the 1968 third-round pick that became Bill Stevens, making the veteran-quality player return the decisive piece.
Pittsburgh acquired Ken Kortas from the St. Louis Cardinals for quarterback Terry Nofsinger on February 16, 1965. Kortas remained with the Steelers through 1968 and became a regular defensive contributor, while Nofsinger produced a more limited Cardinals return. Four seasons of useful Pittsburgh service make the Steelers the clear winner in hindsight.
San Francisco acquired John David Crow from St. Louis for Abe Woodson before the 1965 season. Crow immediately delivered a Pro Bowl year with 514 rushing yards and 493 receiving yards, then remained a productive 49er through 1968. Woodson was an accomplished veteran and gave the Cardinals legitimate value, but Crow’s multi-year offensive production and immediate 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage make San Francisco the clear winner.
New York traded defensive back John Symank to St. Louis on July 3, 1963 for a future high draft choice. Contemporary reporting establishes that player-for-pick structure, although surviving references do not identify the downstream selection with equal confidence. Symank played only the 1963 season for the Cardinals, while the Giants retained a future premium draft opportunity beyond his brief St. Louis tenure.
Philadelphia acquired Frank Fuller from St. Louis for John Wittenborn in 1963, with player transaction records placing the move on June 26 rather than June 2. Fuller provided limited Eagles service before injured reserve, while Wittenborn did not produce regular-season value for the Cardinals. The corrected history supports a modest Philadelphia win.
New York acquired quarterback Ralph Guglielmi from St. Louis for rookie Bill Triplett and a high 1963 draft choice that became No. 13 overall, Don Brumm. Guglielmi served mainly behind Y.A. Tittle and produced little lasting Giants value. Triplett soon became a 1,000-yard-from-scrimmage back for the Cardinals, while Brumm added another meaningful first-round asset.
Arizona Cardinals and Washington completed this transaction on 1961-09-12, with Arizona Cardinals receiving Ralph Guglielmi and Washington receiving George Izo. The cited historical sources support the basic exchange and its compensation. The long-term value remained modest on both sides, leaving the exchange best graded as an even result.
Arizona Cardinals received Joe Robb. Joe Robb remained with the Cardinals for years and developed into a regular defensive contributor, giving St. Louis the strongest sustained return in the trade. That result supports a B+ grade for Arizona Cardinals. The final verdict is Arizona Cardinals Win, based on the documented service, durability, and value each club actually obtained from this exchange.
Arizona Cardinals received Prentice Gautt and Tazwell Anderson / Taz Anderson. Arizona received Prentice Gautt and Taz Anderson. Both players went on to provide meaningful production for the Cardinals, giving Arizona two useful contributors from a deal that cost quarterback John Roach. Their combined on-field return was clearly stronger than the value Cleveland ultimately recovered from Roach and the later draft choice tied to him. That result supports a A- grade for Arizona Cardinals.
St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals received Edgar Henke / Ed Henke in the exchange with San Francisco 49ers. Henke played all 14 games for the 1961 Cardinals, started ten, and recorded six sacks, providing immediate and useful defensive value. The supported hindsight grade is B. That mark reflects realized value tied directly to this transaction, with the overall result recorded as Arizona/St. Louis Cardinals Win.
Philadelphia acquired quarterback King Hill from the Cardinals on January 7, 1961, for the Eagles’ 1962 first-round pick, No. 12 overall. Hill became a long-term Eagles backup, spot starter and punter, appearing for Philadelphia across eight seasons. St. Louis used the pick on Irv Goode, who became a 10-year Cardinals offensive-line starter, played 134 games for the franchise and earned two Pro Bowls. The Cardinals received the superior long-term return.
St. Louis Cardinals received Don Owens in the exchange with Philadelphia Eagles. Don Owens became a four-season St. Louis defensive-line starter, giving the Cardinals a substantial and durable return from the veteran side. Against Philadelphia Eagles' return of high draft pick (probably 1961 #36-Jim Wright), that outcome supports a B+ grade. The transaction is judged as St. Louis Cardinals Win, with the mark based on the football value that actually followed from the deal.
On 1960-09-09, Arizona Cardinals received conditional draft pick (selection not identified), while Green Bay Packers received Larry Hickman. The final verdict is Even Trade, with Arizona Cardinals graded C+ and Green Bay Packers graded C+. The hindsight view follows the documented consideration and later traceable value without treating every named pick outcome as if it had been directly exchanged on trade day. Any conditional, undisclosed, or unidentified component is credited only to the extent that the surviving evidence establishes it.
Detroit acquired Hall of Fame cornerback Dick "Night Train" Lane from the Chicago Cardinals on August 22, 1960 for lineman Gerry Perry. Lane immediately became a centerpiece of the Lions defense, earned repeated All-NFL honors, and intercepted 21 passes in six Detroit seasons. Perry did not produce comparable value for the Cardinals, making this one of Detroit's strongest veteran acquisitions.
Detroit acquired Carl Brettschneider from the Cardinals for Mike Rabold on July 31, 1960. Brettschneider provided the Lions with several seasons of useful defensive service, while Rabold's Cardinals stay was much shorter. That difference gives Detroit the stronger realized return and supports a Lions win, with Detroit at B and the Cardinals at C+.
Cleveland acquired safety Don Fleming from the Cardinals for its 1961 sixth-round pick. Fleming became an immediate Browns starter, starting all 38 games he played over three seasons and intercepting 10 passes. The Cardinals used pick No. 83 on Dick Thornton, who chose the CFL and never played an NFL game. Cleveland turned a sixth-round choice into an outstanding short-career starter.
Chicago Cardinals received 1960 tenth round pick (#113-Paul Oglesby) from Green Bay Packers in the 1959-09-22 exchange. Ken Beck played 24 games for Green Bay across 1959 and 1960, while Paul Oglesby did not create comparable NFL value from the pick obtained by the Cardinals. Measured by what Chicago Cardinals actually realized after the deal, the return supports a D+ grade and represents the weaker realized return. The overall judgment is Green Bay Packers Win.
Pittsburgh and the Cardinals exchanged Gern Nagler and Ken Hall around September 2, 1959, amid a quick sequence of late-summer player movement. Historical player records support the swap but do not reveal a durable value gap between the two returns. With neither side gaining a clearly superior long-term payoff, an Even Trade and matching C grades remain appropriate.
The Cardinals received an undisclosed draft choice for Dick Nolan. The surviving evidence does not identify the round, selection or eventual player, so the downstream value must remain unresolved. Even without inventing the pick chain, Arizona obtained a future asset while Green Bay received no regular-season service from Nolan.
On 1959-08-04, Arizona Cardinals received Tom Catlin, while Cleveland Browns received 1960 draft pick (undisclosed). The hindsight verdict is Even Trade, with Arizona Cardinals graded C+ and Cleveland Browns graded C+. The evaluation follows the documented consideration and the football value that can be traced from it, while treating conditional terms and later draft outcomes as context rather than as assets exchanged directly on trade day.
Green Bay acquired veteran quarterback Lamar McHan from the Chicago Cardinals on May 22, 1959, in a conditional deal that cost the Packers a 1960 third-round pick only if McHan made the roster. He did, and the pick became No. 29 Charley Elley. McHan played 24 games for Green Bay across Vince Lombardi’s first two seasons, throwing for 1,322 yards and 11 touchdowns. Elley produced no comparable NFL regular-season value.
Los Angeles acquired Hall of Fame halfback Ollie Matson from the Chicago Cardinals for seven named players, a 1960 second-round pick that became Mike McGee, and a training-camp player obligation later converted into the 1960 fourth-round pick used on Silas Woods. Matson produced immediately for the Rams, but the Cardinals received one of the largest multi-asset packages of the era.
The Cardinals acquired tackle Bobby Cross from San Francisco for an undisclosed draft choice. Cross immediately became a starter for Chicago and appeared in 23 games across two seasons, giving the franchise tangible value from the exchange. Because the exact draft return is not fully identified but the trade itself is established, Cross' documented contribution supports a B- grade and a Cardinals win.
The Cardinals acquired Don Gillis from Cleveland for a conditional 1959 eighth-round choice that became No. 87, Bob Ptacek. Gillis immediately started all 12 games for Chicago in 1958, giving the franchise a full season of starting value from a late-round price. That immediate production supports a B- grade and makes the Cardinals the stronger side of the exchange.
The Cardinals exchanged veteran linebacker Leo Sanford for Dale Meinert in the summer of 1958. Sanford started nine games for Baltimore that season and then left the active roster, while Meinert became a durable ten-year Cardinals fixture, starting 123 NFL games and earning All-NFL recognition in 1964. The long-term value makes this a clear Cardinals victory.
The Cardinals received Ben Preston plus the 1959 No. 52 pick used on Ted Bates. Bates supplied one useful season for the club, giving the return some genuine value, but the package did not generate the same sustained production Washington received from Johnny Olszewski. Arizona therefore lands slightly below average rather than failing completely in this historical exchange.
New York sent Dick Nolan and rookie Bobby Joe Conrad to the Chicago Cardinals for defensive back Lindon Crow and kicker-end Pat Summerall. Crow became a multi-year Giants starter and intercepted Johnny Unitas in the 1958 championship game, while Summerall supplied important kicking. Conrad developed into a long-term Cardinals standout, keeping the trade productive on both sides despite New York's slight edge.
Baltimore sent tackle Tom Finnin to the Cardinals for a 1958 fifth-round pick and used that selection on Ole Miss defensive back Ray Brown. Finnin spent only the 1957 season with Chicago, while Brown started as a rookie, intercepted eight passes, handled punting duties, and became a starter on the Colts’ back-to-back 1958 and 1959 NFL championship teams.
Arizona Cardinals received Doug Hogland, while San Francisco 49ers received 1957 fourth round pick (#46-Mike Sandusky). The Cardinals acquired Doug Hogland and San Francisco received the 1957 fourth-round choice used at No. 46 on Mike Sandusky. Hogland became a useful Cardinals starter, while San Francisco later included Sandusky in the Earl Morrall trade, making the original exchange competitive. Arizona Cardinals earns a B- grade, and the overall verdict is Even Trade.
Chicago acquired defensive back Tom Keane from Baltimore for Dick Young in a 1955 exchange whose exact day is listed as approximate by transaction histories. Keane immediately became a productive Cardinals starter and intercepted six passes in 1955. Young gave Baltimore two seasons of reserve backfield service before moving on, leaving Chicago with the clearer on-field return.
Baltimore acquired defensive end Don Joyce from the Chicago Cardinals for guard Bill Lange and an unidentified draft choice in September 1954. Joyce became a seven-season Colt, played 81 regular-season games, and was part of Baltimore's 1958 and 1959 championship teams. Lange remained useful in Chicago, but the Colts received the far more durable and consequential player.
Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals received Marvin Johnson from Green Bay Packers, giving up Don Coleman. The Cardinals received Marvin Johnson. His inclusion makes this a balanced veteran exchange, and the available outcome supports the same C grade rather than a stronger win-or-loss call. That return supports a C grade for Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals. The final verdict is Even Trade.
The 1954 three-team deal delivered Richard "Night Train" Lane, Len Teeuws and Bob Morgan to the Cardinals. The Rams received Don Doll from Washington plus Volney Peters, while Washington received Don Paul from the Cardinals. Lane immediately remained one of football's premier defensive backs, making his move to the Cardinals the defining value swing in a complicated three-club exchange.
Arizona captured the strongest long-term value in the January 30, 1954 three-team trade. The Cardinals received Night Train Lane, Len Teeuws and Bob Morgan; Lane became a six-year secondary star for the franchise and Teeuws became a four-year starter. Washington also created useful value by later turning Don Paul into Johnny Carson and Dale Atkeson, while the Rams' direct return proved much shorter-lived.
Arizona Cardinals received Steve Romanik. The Cardinals received Steve Romanik, a veteran quarterback who provided depth after the October 1953 trade. His Arizona/St. Louis tenure did not develop into a stronger or longer-term return than the player sent to Chicago, so the Cardinals received useful but limited value.
Detroit sent Pat Summerall to the Chicago Cardinals for cash in September 1953. Pro Football Archives places the trade on September 22, one day earlier than the old row. Summerall then spent five seasons with Chicago as a kicker and defensive end, becoming a regular starter by 1956. The Cardinals gained durable football value for a cash-only return.
Arizona Cardinals received 1953 ninth round draft choice (possibly #99-Ed Husmann). The Cardinals received Washington's 1953 ninth-round choice. The current record identifies the downstream selection only as possibly No. 99 Ed Husmann, and that qualification must remain. Arizona therefore received a real draft asset, but its exact player outcome cannot be treated as certain.
The Cardinals acquired Joe Geri and got one season of usable backfield and kicking value. Geri appeared in all 12 games in 1952, started once and scored 28 points. That was a legitimate short-term return, but it did not match the multi-season line play Pittsburgh received from Lou Ferry.
Arizona Cardinals received Harry Allis. The Cardinals received Harry Allis, but he did not develop into an NFL regular-season contributor. Contemporary accounts show he was traded to the Cardinals in August 1952, yet his professional football path ended as he pursued medical training. Arizona therefore realized little on-field value from the acquired player.
Arizona Cardinals received Burl Toler. The Cardinals received Burl Toler, but he did not appear in an NFL regular-season game for the franchise. Toler later became historically important as an NFL official, yet that career cannot be credited as playing value from the Cardinals' side of this trade.
Arizona received rookies Jerrell Price and Gordon Polofsky for tackle John Hock. Polofsky provided useful service for the Cardinals, giving the club a real return rather than an empty exchange, but the package did not match Hock's longer and more distinguished Rams career. The B- grade credits Arizona's useful compensation while recognizing the stronger value that ultimately landed in Los Angeles.
Detroit's unusual return was Buster Ramsey's coaching services, and the payoff was enormous: he joined the staff in 1952, ran the defense through 1959 and served on championship teams in 1952, 1953 and 1957. Chicago received Jerry Krall, whom Detroit had already released and re-signed solely to complete the transaction; Krall never played a Cardinals regular-season game. Detroit's A-to-D win is one of the clearest coaching-for-player outcomes in the archive.
Arizona Cardinals received rights to Chuck Ulrich and 1953 sixth round pick (#70-Tom Higgins). The Cardinals received the rights to Chuck Ulrich plus Philadelphia's 1953 sixth-round choice. The pick became Tom Higgins, who started 10 games for the Cardinals as a rookie in 1953. That traced draft outcome gives Arizona a substantial, concrete return even without overstating the uncertain parts of the older pick chain.
Arizona Cardinals received Art Murakowski and Bob Momsen. The Cardinals received Art Murakowski and Bob Momsen, but neither produced the expected Cardinals return. Murakowski did not play a Cardinals regular-season game, and Momsen's documented 1952 regular-season service came with San Francisco rather than Arizona. Those outside-team appearances cannot be credited to the Cardinals.
Detroit acquired former league scoring champion Pat Harder from the Chicago Cardinals for John Panelli and the 1952 second-round choice used on Pete Brewster. Harder immediately scored and rushed for Detroit, then contributed to the Lions' 1952 and 1953 championship run. Panelli became a three-year Cardinals starter, but Brewster never played for Chicago, giving Detroit the stronger realized return.
Chicago obtained halfback Emil 'Red' Sitko from San Francisco in August 1951 for a draft choice. Available transaction histories confirm that a pick changed hands but leave the exact selection uncertain, suggesting only that it may have become 1952 No. 27 Gene Shannon. Sitko provided useful 1951 service; without a confirmed pick identity, the exchange remains balanced.
Arizona Cardinals received Cliff Patton. The Cardinals received Cliff Patton and got a full season of immediate value. Patton started all 12 games for the club in 1951 and scored 34 points as a kicker, giving Arizona/St. Louis both lineup stability and special-teams production from the player acquired.
The Cardinals received tackle Gerard Walters, also known as Bucky Walters, from Detroit in the 1950 player-for-player exchange. Walters did not go on to provide a meaningful regular-season NFL return for the Cardinals after the move. Fred Wendt likewise failed to create a material post-trade advantage for Detroit, so Arizona's side of the transaction fits a C- grade and an even verdict.
The Cardinals acquired Frank Tripucka and received immediate quarterback production in 1950. He appeared in 10 games, started once, threw for 720 yards and four touchdowns, and gave the club a real if short-lived return. Arizona did not come away empty-handed, but the value was much narrower than Detroit's three-player package.
Arizona Cardinals received Gerry Cowhig; Bob Shaw; Tom Keane in the 1950-06-02 exchange with Los Angeles Rams. Bob Shaw became a useful Cardinals player and the three-player return had real depth, but it did not quite equal the peak value Los Angeles received. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Arizona Cardinals surrendered, the result supports Los Angeles Rams Win and a B- grade for Arizona Cardinals.
At the January 21, 1950 draft, New York’s selection of Bill Svoboda at No. 29 was transferred to the Chicago Cardinals to settle accounts tied to Bill Campbell’s earlier move to the Bulldogs. Svoboda immediately became a regular for the Cardinals and eventually played 102 NFL games with 93 starts. The older Campbell consideration is less precisely documented, so Arizona receives the stronger but not absolute grade.
Pittsburgh acquired halfback and defensive back Bob Hanlon from the Chicago Cardinals for a 1950 twelfth-round pick, No. 152, used on Bob Sharpe. Hanlon played all 12 games for the Steelers in 1949, started seven and intercepted three passes while also returning kicks. Sharpe did not create comparable documented NFL value. The return was modest, but Pittsburgh received the clearer immediate contribution from the documented transaction.
New York acquired quarterback Ray Mallouf from the Chicago Cardinals in September 1949 for a player to be named later. The researched transaction evidence does not support the extra 1950 third-round pick previously attached to the Cardinals' return. Mallouf spent the final season of his NFL career with the Giants, appearing in 11 games.
Arizona acquired quarterback Jim Hardy from Los Angeles in September 1949, giving up its 1950 first-round choice, which became No. 9 overall Ralph Pasquariello, plus cash. Hardy became the Cardinals' regular quarterback and earned a 1950 Pro Bowl selection, while Pasquariello played only nine games for the Rams before later joining the Cardinals. That realized return gives Arizona the stronger result.
New York received a 1949 25th-round selection from the Chicago Cardinals, and the transferred pick became Iowa back Ralph Doran at No. 250 overall. Doran did not appear in an NFL regular-season game. The Cardinals' consideration remains undisclosed, so the Giants' edge is modest and rests on having the only clearly traceable asset.
Detroit sent a 1949 seventh-round pick to the Chicago Cardinals, and the transferred selection became Myrl Greathouse at No. 62 overall. The Lions' incoming consideration remains undisclosed in the surviving transaction material. Because Chicago received a clearly traceable draft asset while Detroit's return is uncertain, the existing C- grade remains defensible.
New York obtained a 1948 ninth-round selection from the Chicago Cardinals, and that pick became guard Ed Royston at No. 75 overall. Royston played 21 games for the Giants and started 12 across the 1948 and 1949 seasons. Other consideration remains undisclosed, but the realized draft return supports New York's existing C+ grade.
Chicago used a fifth-round choice transferred from the Cardinals to select Stanford back Lloyd Merriman at No. 32 in the 1947 NFL draft. Merriman chose baseball instead of professional football and never played for the Bears, while the Cardinals' consideration remains unidentified. With no documented NFL return on Chicago's side and an unknown return on Arizona's side, the trade is graded Even at C/C.
New York acquired the rights to Tex Coulter from the Chicago Cardinals in a December 1946 swap of first-round draft choices, sending the rights to Vic Schwall in return. Coulter became a long-term Giants lineman and later earned Pro Bowl recognition, while Schwall played four NFL seasons with the Cardinals. The exchange produced real value on both sides.
Arizona received Joe Coomer in the December 1946 exchange. The surviving professional record does not show the Cardinals extracting a substantial, durable advantage from Coomer, so the return is best treated as modest rather than inflated by uncertain later outcomes. That result supports a C- grade and fits an even overall verdict.
Chicago purchased backs Jimmy Richardson and Jim Strasbaugh from Green Bay on August 24, 1946, for an undisclosed cash price. Contemporary coverage confirms both players reported to the Cardinals, and Strasbaugh appeared in all 11 games that season with one start. The amount Green Bay received is unknown, which limits the certainty of the comparison, but Chicago obtained the only clearly measurable post-transaction football contribution.
Chicago acquired center Vaughn Stewart from Brooklyn for cash at the end of September 1943 as the Cardinals tried to strengthen a thin position. Contemporary reporting places him with Chicago immediately, and Stewart went on to play nine games with eight starts for the Cardinals that season after only one Brooklyn appearance. Brooklyn later reacquired him in 1944, but Chicago received the stronger immediate 1943 value.
The Chicago Cardinals purchased guard Lou Marotti from the New York Giants on September 14, 1943, in a straight cash transaction, according to contemporaneous reporting. Marotti played 15 games for the Cardinals/Card-Pitt organization from 1943 through 1945. Because the cash amount is not identified, the football value surrendered by New York cannot be measured precisely, leaving no evidence-backed winner.
The Cardinals received John 'Johnny' Hall in the 1943 player exchange. Hall contributed after the move, but his Cardinals value was concentrated primarily in that season and did not match the multi-year return Detroit received from Bob Keene. The direct package was simple and legitimate; the difference comes from how much useful football each player supplied after changing clubs.
The Cardinals acquired Tom Chantiles in the October 22, 1942 player-for-player exchange. Chantiles had appeared in two games for Detroit before the trade, but his Cardinals stay was extremely short and he was released roughly a week later. That left Chicago with essentially no meaningful post-trade playing return from the deal and makes this side of the exchange difficult to defend.
The Cardinals acquired the rights to Johnny Hall from Green Bay in exchange for the Packers' rights to Earl Brown. Hall immediately became useful, playing 11 games with seven starts in 1940 and repeating that 11-game, seven-start workload in 1941. He also produced offensive and defensive scoring value. Brown did not provide comparable Packers service, giving the Cardinals the clear realized edge.
The Cardinals received cash for the rights to Ed 'Jeep' Brett in September 1936. The surviving record does not establish the payment amount or a downstream roster use for it. Brett, meanwhile, produced 18 games and 11 starts for Pittsburgh over two seasons, so the Cardinals' return is best treated as legitimate but unquantified compensation rather than a measurable football outcome.
The Cardinals received Green Bay's rights to Bob Reynolds for Lou Gordon in August 1936. Reynolds did not provide a comparable regular-season contribution for the franchise, while Gordon became a useful Green Bay lineman with 12 games and five starts in 1936 and continued service the next season. The Cardinals' realized return was therefore minimal relative to what they surrendered.
Arizona Cardinals received Pug Vaughan in the 1936-05-19 exchange with Detroit Lions. Pug Vaughan handled a meaningful passing role for the Cardinals in 1936, giving Chicago the clearer immediate return. The direct package, rather than later movement of any acquired asset, is the basis for the hindsight judgment. Against what Arizona Cardinals surrendered, the result supports Arizona Cardinals Win.
Chicago sold end John Lyons to the Cincinnati Reds around the July 1934 league meeting, with contemporary reporting describing Cincinnati as having bought his contract from the Cardinals. The purchase price was not disclosed. Lyons did not provide a documented 1934 NFL return for Cincinnati and instead appeared in eight games for the Louisville Bourbons of the American Football League, leaving Chicago with the clearer realized benefit.
Green Bay completed a September 7, 1928 deal sending guard Ray Marelli to the Chicago Cardinals. Transaction listings describe the consideration as possible cash, while contemporary Packers coverage says no players came back to Green Bay, so the payment should be treated as reported rather than certain. Marelli played only two games with one start for Chicago, leaving little evidence that either side captured a major advantage.
The Cardinals sold Paddy Driscoll to the Bears in September 1926 after a competing league created pressure around his playing future. Team history says the move was intended to keep him in the NFL. The Cardinals received cash, but Driscoll immediately became a major Chicago contributor and remained a Hall of Fame-caliber figure. The strategic motive is understandable, yet the football return still favored the Bears by a wide margin.
Chicago purchased Roddy Lamb from the Rock Island Independents in 1926 after Lamb had been one of Rock Island’s prominent 1925 backs. Contemporary league-meeting coverage says Cardinals owner Chris O’Brien paid a substantial price, though no exact figure survives. Lamb then played 23 games with 10 starts across three Cardinals seasons, giving Chicago a useful multi-year return while Rock Island received cash and soon left the NFL.
Chicago purchased Red Dunn, Bub Weller and Hal Erickson from financially strained Milwaukee before the 1925 season, acquiring three established Badgers in one cash transaction. The trio immediately became major Cardinals contributors during Chicago’s championship campaign, with Dunn directing the offense, Weller starting on the line and Erickson working in the backfield. Milwaukee received needed cash, but Chicago captured far greater lasting football value.