Oakland moved into the No. 33 slot of the 1972 draft and…
Oakland moved into the No. 33 slot of the 1972 draft and selected defensive tackle Kelvin Korver. New Orleans received the No. 39 selection, used on linebacker John Babinecz, plus the No. 74 choice, used on defensive back Tom Myers. The exchange was a classic trade-down in which both clubs converted draft position into players.
Las Vegas Raiders Received
- pick 1972 second round pick (#33-Kelvin Korver)
New Orleans Saints Received
- pick 1972 second round pick (#39-John Babinecz)
- pick 1972 third round pick (#74-Tom Myers)
Trade Analysis
What the Trade Actually Did
Oakland moved into the No. 33 slot of the 1972 draft and selected defensive tackle Kelvin Korver. New Orleans received the No. 39 selection, used on linebacker John Babinecz, plus the No. 74 choice, used on defensive back Tom Myers. The exchange was a classic trade-down in which both clubs converted draft position into players.
Why the Deal Made Sense
This is best understood as draft-position arbitrage rather than a star-player trade. Oakland paid an extra third-round pick to move from No. 39 to No. 33. Korver became a rotational defensive lineman for the Raiders. His career was useful but not so productive that Oakland clearly overwhelmed the value New Orleans created by adding another selection.
What the Return Became
The Saints received two players from the return package, spreading the risk across a second-rounder and a third-rounder. That is the normal reason teams accept a modest move down.
Why the Value Separated
Because the realized careers were modest on both sides, there is no strong historical basis for a major grade gap. The cleanest verdict is an even exchange with reasonable process and limited long-term separation.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. The final grades reflect realized production, longevity, acquisition cost and the value of the draft capital that changed hands. Las Vegas Raiders receives B- and New Orleans Saints receives B-.
How the Hindsight Standard Applies
This verdict does not assume that every draft choice should have produced a star. It compares what each club surrendered with the actual careers, roster roles and flexibility created by the exchange. That keeps the judgment centered on historical value rather than reputation alone.