Green Bay traded quarterback Scott Brunner to the Cardinals…
Green Bay traded quarterback Scott Brunner to the Cardinals and received the 1986 sixth-round pick used on linebacker Burnell Dent. Dent became a meaningful NFL contributor after the selection, giving the Packers a durable return from a late-round asset. That outcome was stronger than the brief role Brunner filled for the Cardinals and supports a B grade for Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 1986 sixth round pick (#143-Burnell Dent)
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Scott Brunner
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1985-08-26, Green Bay Packers received 1986 sixth round pick (#143-Burnell Dent), while Arizona Cardinals received Scott Brunner. The exchange is supported by the historical transaction and draft records carried into this review, allowing the two returns to be judged by the value each club actually controlled after the deal.
Green Bay Packers Return
Green Bay traded quarterback Scott Brunner to the Cardinals and received the 1986 sixth-round pick used on linebacker Burnell Dent. Dent became a meaningful NFL contributor after the selection, giving the Packers a durable return from a late-round asset. That outcome was stronger than the brief role Brunner filled for the Cardinals and supports a B grade for Green Bay. The grade reflects the practical value of that return rather than the reputation or theoretical value of the asset on the day of the trade.
Arizona Cardinals Return
The Cardinals acquired quarterback Scott Brunner and surrendered the future sixth-round pick that became Burnell Dent. Brunner's role with the club was brief, so the immediate quarterback help did not develop into a lasting return. Because Green Bay turned the outgoing pick into a more meaningful contributor, the Cardinals finish at C despite the understandable short-term logic of adding a veteran passer. The same standard applies on this side: tangible playing value and clearly retained draft capital matter more than an eventual asset's label alone.
Value in Hindsight
Late-round trades often produce little separation, but this one did. Green Bay converted the sixth-round selection into Burnell Dent, whose later NFL contribution gave the pick a stronger realized value than Brunner delivered in his short Cardinals stint. The Packers' advantage is clear enough for the B-to-C grade gap without overstating the scale of the exchange.
Final Verdict
The final call is Green Bay Packers Win. Green Bay Packers earns B, and Arizona Cardinals earns C. Those grades reflect the supported package and the relative football value each side realized, while keeping the scale of the transaction in proper context.