Atlanta Falcons–Detroit Lions Trade History

Atlanta traded defensive tackle Chuck Sieminski to Detroit on July 20, 1968 for a future draft choice. Sieminski played eight regular-season games for the Lions in 1968, his final NFL season. Public draft-transaction ledgers tie Detroit-origin 1969 picks to Atlanta but do not resolve this trade's exact selection cleanly enough to assign either Wally Oyler or Ted Cottrell with confidence.

Atlanta moved linebacker Andy Bowling to Detroit during the 1968 preseason for a future draft choice, but the surviving public draft ledgers do not isolate the exact 1969 selection. Bowling had played six games for the Falcons in 1967 and did not appear in a regular-season game for Detroit. The legacy row is corrected to leave Atlanta's pick unidentified instead of choosing between Wally Oyler and Ted Cottrell.

Atlanta Falcons received Amos Marsh from Detroit Lions. Marsh did not appear in a Falcons regular-season game before leaving the club, leaving Atlanta without meaningful on-field value. The D grade reflects the direct value Atlanta Falcons realized from the transaction, with the final Even Trade call based on actual service and clearly traceable draft outcomes rather than projected value.

Atlanta acquired Brendan McCarthy from Detroit at the start of the 1968 season, with surviving transaction histories supporting a cash move even though later summaries vary on the exact mechanism. McCarthy started seven games for the Falcons and scored a rushing touchdown. That modest on-field contribution gives Atlanta the edge over Detroit's cash return.

On 1969-07-09, Atlanta Falcons received Mike Alford, while Detroit Lions received undisclosed draft pick (not exercised?). The hindsight verdict is Even Trade, with Atlanta Falcons graded C and Detroit Lions 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.

Atlanta traded running back Paul Gipson to Detroit on September 9, 1971, and received the 1972 second-round choice that became No. 40 overall and Pat Sullivan. Gipson's Lions stay produced only a brief 1971 role, while Sullivan spent several seasons with Atlanta and supplied useful quarterback depth. The corrected pick chain gives the Falcons a clear, though not overwhelming, hindsight win.

Detroit sent its 1972 second-round choice to Atlanta and received defensive back Rudy Redmond, running back Sonny Campbell and Atlanta's 1973 fourth-round pick. That later selection became Dick Jauron, who developed into a multi-season Lions starter. Atlanta used the second-rounder on Steve Okoniewski, but Detroit's combination of veterans and a productive future defensive back gives the Lions the stronger overall return.

Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta used the acquired pick on Henry Childs, but his meaningful NFL production came later with New Orleans rather than with the Falcons. The D+ 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 Even Trade.

Atlanta Falcons received $500 cash, while Detroit Lions received Garth Ten Napel. Detroit acquired Ten Napel from Atlanta for $500; he added no documented regular-season value for Detroit after the deal. The hindsight grades are C+ for Atlanta Falcons and D+ for Detroit Lions, producing a Atlanta Falcons Win verdict.

Atlanta moved Greg Paterra to Detroit in August 1990 for a 1991 draft choice that became tenth-round No. 258 Pete Lucas. Paterra's stay with the Lions was brief, while Lucas did not develop into a meaningful NFL contributor. With neither side turning the modest exchange into lasting value, the fairest hindsight result is an even trade.

Atlanta Falcons received 2010 6th round pick (171st overall, Shann Schillinger); 2011 7th round pick (210th overall, Andrew Jackson) in the 2010-03-08 exchange with Detroit Lions. Shann Schillinger became a reserve and special-teams safety, while Andrew Jackson did not create meaningful NFL value for Atlanta. The direct return and the football value it produced drive the hindsight judgment. Against the assets Atlanta Falcons surrendered, the result supports Detroit Lions Win and a C- grade for Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta moved up to No. 111 and selected Kendall Sheffield. Sheffield gave the Falcons real defensive-back snaps and some useful service, so the trade was not a failure for Atlanta. The issue is that the single higher selection did not ultimately outproduce Detroit's two-player return. That result supports a C- grade within the Detroit Lions Win verdict.

Atlanta acquired former No. 3 pick Jeff Okudah from Detroit for a 2023 fifth-round choice. Okudah started nine games for the Falcons, recording 44 tackles and three passes defensed, but left after one season. Detroit gained pick No. 159 and moved on from a player outside its long-term plan while also creating roster and cap flexibility. Atlanta received a functional one-year starter, but Detroit's low-risk reset aged better.