St. Louis acquired linebacker Al Beauchamp from Cincinnati in…
St. Louis acquired linebacker Al Beauchamp from Cincinnati in June 1976 and surrendered a future fourth-round choice. Beauchamp appeared in all 14 games for the Cardinals that season but did not start, while the eventual Bengals selection, Jerry Anderson, produced only a brief NFL stay. Neither return became substantial enough to separate the clubs.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Al Beauchamp
Cincinnati Bengals Received
- pick 1977 fourth round pick (#105-Jerry Anderson)
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Cincinnati moved veteran linebacker Al Beauchamp to St. Louis in June 1976 for a future draft choice. Bengals historical records identify the compensation as the 1977 fourth-round selection that became No. 105 Jerry Anderson.
What Cincinnati Received
The Bengals used the acquired choice on Anderson. His Cincinnati stay was brief: available career records show 14 games and one start as a rookie in 1977, followed by only a small amount of additional NFL time. The pick therefore did not become a long-term starter or a major source of surplus value.
What St. Louis Received
The Cardinals added Beauchamp as an experienced linebacker. NFL records show him appearing in all 14 games for St. Louis in 1976 without a start. He gave the club usable depth, but not the kind of sustained role that would make a fourth-round choice look cheap in retrospect.
Why Neither Side Pulled Away
The trade was sensible for both roster timelines. Cincinnati converted a veteran into future draft capital, while St. Louis bought immediate experience. Yet the player and the eventual pick each produced only modest results for the acquiring team. There is no durable production gap large enough to justify a winner.
Historical Context
The modest outcomes also fit the price. A future fourth-round choice offered Cincinnati another roster opportunity, while St. Louis acquired an experienced linebacker without surrendering premium draft capital.
Final Verdict
Cincinnati receives a C and St. Louis receives a C. The trade is an Even Trade because both clubs received legitimate but limited value, and neither Beauchamp nor Anderson became a lasting difference-maker for his new team.