New Orleans Saints–San Francisco 49ers Trade History

San Francisco traded tackle Dave McCormick to New Orleans on September 5, 1967 for the Saints' 1968 sixth-round choice. The pick became No. 141 overall, where the 49ers selected Tennessee State wide receiver Leo Johnson. Johnson spent 1968 on the taxi squad, then appeared in 21 regular-season games for San Francisco across 1969-70, catching four passes for 42 yards. The return was modest, but it produced two seasons of roster service.

New Orleans received veteran defensive end Dan Colchico for Jim Jordan in April 1968. Jordan never produced a regular-season appearance for San Francisco and was playing for the Alabama Hawks in the Continental Football League later that year. Colchico eventually returned from his long Achilles recovery to play nine games for the Saints in 1969. That modest contribution gives New Orleans the edge.

New Orleans Saints received Monty Stickles from San Francisco in the 1968-07-05 trade, while San Francisco received George Rose. Stickles supplied modest 1968 receiving production for New Orleans. Rose did not create a post-trade regular-season return for San Francisco. Those limited realized outcomes support the existing C/C grades and Even Trade verdict.

San Francisco traded running back Gary Lewis to New Orleans on September 21, 1970 for the Saints' 1971 tenth-round pick, No. 236. The 49ers used the selection on Wisconsin-Oshkosh running back Ron Cardo, who did not record an NFL regular-season appearance.

San Francisco 49ers received 1975 fourth-round pick No. 85, Cleveland Elam; New Orleans Saints received Preston Riley. Elam became a two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman for San Francisco and started 33 games from 1976-78. Riley appeared in only one game for New Orleans in 1973 and recorded no reception. The realized outcomes support San Francisco 49ers Win, with San Francisco 49ers graded A- and New Orleans Saints graded D+.

New Orleans acquired safety Johnny Fuller from San Francisco on July 9, 1973 for a future third-round draft choice. The strongest completed draft chain points to the Saints' 1976 third-round pick, No. 63 overall, which passed through San Francisco to Kansas City and became linebacker Keith Simons. Fuller immediately became a Saints starter and logged 36 games with 34 starts from 1973 through 1975.

New Orleans received 1974 fourth round pick (#88-Rod McNeill), 1974 fifth round pick (#113-Joel Parker), while San Francisco received Danny Abramowicz. The hindsight grades are B- for New Orleans and C+ for San Francisco. The verdict is grounded in the actual starts, production, tenure and downstream draft results produced by those assets.

San Francisco 49ers received Paul Seal; New Orleans Saints received John Watson. Seal played 43 games for San Francisco from 1977-79, catching 37 passes for 634 yards and three touchdowns. Watson appeared in 15 games for New Orleans over three seasons and made five starts, all in 1978. The realized outcomes support San Francisco 49ers Win, with San Francisco 49ers graded B- and New Orleans Saints graded C.

San Francisco received fullback Greg Boykin, who played all 16 games in 1978, started eight, and produced 473 scrimmage yards with two rushing touchdowns. New Orleans received safety Ralph McGill, who played 29 games over two seasons, including all 16 in 1978. Both clubs extracted legitimate short-term value, supporting an even trade.

San Francisco acquired safety Chuck Crist from New Orleans on August 15, 1978 for linebacker Skip Vanderbundt. Crist started all 15 games he played for the 49ers and led the team with six interceptions for 159 return yards.

New Orleans received the 1982 sixth-round pick used on Craig Bingham, while San Francisco received quarterback Guy Benjamin. Benjamin appeared in four games for the 1981 49ers and completed 15 of 26 passes for 171 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Bingham produced no Saints regular-season contribution. Those outcomes support San Francisco C+, New Orleans C-, and a 49ers win.

New Orleans Saints received Parys Haralson; San Francisco 49ers received 2014 seventh-round pick No. 242. Haralson played 32 Saints games, started 20 and recorded 6.5 sacks. San Francisco later packaged No. 242 in a larger trade with Denver instead of drafting Corey Nelson. The realized outcomes support New Orleans Saints Win, with New Orleans Saints graded B- and San Francisco 49ers graded C.

New Orleans sent pick No. 229 and a 2018 second-rounder to San Francisco for pick No. 67, then selected Alvin Kamara. Kamara became one of the defining players of the Saints' modern era, earning five straight Pro Bowls to begin his career and setting major franchise rushing marks. San Francisco found some value in Adrian Colbert and later draft maneuvering, but nothing close to Kamara's impact.

San Francisco traded Kwon Alexander to New Orleans for Kiko Alonso and a conditional fifth-round pick that became Deommodore Lenoir in 2021. Alonso supplied no playing return, but Lenoir developed into a long-term member of the secondary and earned a major extension. That direct draft outcome gives the 49ers the stronger lasting value from the exchange.

San Francisco acquired linebacker Deion Jones from New Orleans for running back Zamir White in a late-August player-for-player exchange. The 49ers released Jones on August 30 before he made the initial 53-man roster, while New Orleans terminated White's contract the same day. No draft capital was reported in the swap, and neither acquiring club received regular-season roster value from the player it obtained.