Detroit Lions–New Orleans Saints Trade History

Detroit acquired veteran offensive tackle Charlie Bradshaw from New Orleans for running back Bruce McLenna. Bradshaw became a two-year starter for the Lions and gave Detroit a clear on-field return. McLenna was recovering from knee surgery when the Saints acquired him and never appeared in a New Orleans regular-season game, creating a wide gap in realized value between the two sides.

Detroit traded Karl Sweetan to New Orleans for Walter 'Flea' Roberts and a high 1969 draft choice that team and draft histories trace to third-round pick No. 59, Larry Walton. Sweetan played only five games for the Saints and threw nine interceptions against one touchdown. Walton developed into a long-term Detroit receiver, making the Lions the clear beneficiary of the exchange.

Detroit sent Carl Cunningham to New Orleans and received the 1973 fourth-round pick later used on Mike Hennigan. Cunningham started for the Saints in 1971 and gave New Orleans useful immediate help. Detroit later got on-field value from Hennigan, so the Lions converted a player they moved into a modest but tangible future return and finished with the stronger long-term result.

New Orleans acquired linebacker Adrian Young from Detroit on April 9, 1973, for the Saints’ 1974 sixth-round pick, No. 139, later used on Willie Burden. Young was released before the season and never played a regular-season game for New Orleans. Burden also never appeared in an NFL regular-season game for Detroit. Neither side turned the trade into meaningful NFL value.

Detroit moved center Dave Thompson and the No. 13 pick to New Orleans for the No. 8 pick and a 1975 sixth-round choice. The Lions used No. 8 on linebacker Ed O'Neil, who played six seasons for Detroit and started 60 games; the later sixth-rounder became Fred Cooper, who did not play in the NFL. New Orleans selected Rick Middleton at No. 13, and both Middleton and Thompson lasted only two seasons with the Saints. That balance of realized value gives the edge to Detroit Lions.

Detroit acquired wide receiver Brett Perriman from New Orleans for a 1992 fifth-round selection. Perriman became a six-year Lions fixture, starting 91 games and catching 428 passes for 5,244 yards and 25 touchdowns. New Orleans used the returned pick on Torrance Small, who became a useful multi-season Saints receiver, but Perriman's sustained Detroit production created the larger team-specific return.

New Orleans sent star linebacker Pat Swilling to Detroit for the eighth and 89th picks in the 1993 draft. The Saints selected Willie Roaf at No. 8 and Lorenzo Neal at No. 89. Roaf became a Hall of Fame left tackle and one of the greatest players in franchise history, while Swilling's Detroit stay was short. New Orleans turned one veteran into two exceptional long-term NFL talents.

New Orleans moved down from No. 58 in the 2007 draft and received picks 66 and 145, selecting safety Usama Young and cornerback David Jones. Detroit used the higher choice on defensive lineman Ikaika Alama-Francis. Young became a useful multi-year Saints defensive back and special-teams player, while Alama-Francis produced limited starting value for Detroit.