Phoenix Cardinals and New England Patriots completed this…
Phoenix Cardinals and New England Patriots completed this exchange on 1992-01-01. Smith played 102 NFL games in his career, but his New England impact was limited compared with the best player Phoenix obtained. The trade is a good example of one successful selection outweighing another miss. Following the acquired picks only through moves actually made by the receiving clubs, the overall result is Arizona Cardinals Win.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1992 second round pick (#46-Tony Sacca)
- pick 1992 fourth round pick (#100-Michael Bankston)
New England Patriots Received
- pick 1992 second round pick (#35-Rod Smith (Marc))
Trade Analysis
Why the Deal Happened
New England moved up from No. 46 to No. 35 in the 1992 second round, sending Phoenix the later second-round pick plus No. 100 in the fourth round. The Patriots selected defensive back Rod Smith. The Cardinals used No. 46 on quarterback Tony Sacca and No. 100 on defensive lineman Michael Bankston, giving Phoenix two chances in exchange for sliding 11 spots.
What Phoenix Cardinals and New England Patriots Received
Smith played 102 NFL games in his career, but his New England impact was limited compared with the best player Phoenix obtained. Sacca appeared in only two NFL games and was a clear miss. Bankston, however, became a long-term Cardinals starter, playing 96 games with 82 starts for the franchise before later joining Cincinnati. He finished his NFL career with 144 games and 27 sacks.
How the Value Developed
The trade is a good example of one successful selection outweighing another miss. New England did obtain a real NFL defensive back at No. 35, so the Patriots' move-up was not worthless. Phoenix's extra fourth-round pick became the most valuable team-specific asset in the deal, with Bankston anchoring the defensive front for years. That long starting tenure gives the Cardinals a clear overall win despite Sacca's failure at quarterback.
Final Verdict
Arizona Cardinals Win. Phoenix Cardinals receives a A- and New England Patriots receives a C+. The grading credits direct on-field production and follows an acquired draft choice into a later trade only when that same asset was actually controlled and moved by the receiving club. That approach avoids assigning another team's eventual selection to the wrong side and keeps the verdict tied to value each franchise truly realized.