Arizona Cardinals received Dennis Shaw. Dennis Shaw played…
Arizona Cardinals received Dennis Shaw. Dennis Shaw played only sparingly for St. Louis across the 1974 and 1975 seasons, limiting the Cardinals' return from the quarterback they acquired. That outcome supports a D+ grade because the return is measured by the direct football value Arizona Cardinals actually received after the deal, compared with the asset sent the other way.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Dennis Shaw
Buffalo Bills Received
- player Ahmad Rashad
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On 1974-01-26, Arizona Cardinals received Dennis Shaw, while Buffalo Bills received Ahmad Rashad. This was a relatively small transaction, but the later results provide enough information to compare what each club actually gained. The verdict focuses on direct football value after the deal, including clearly traceable draft outcomes, rather than on reputation or hypothetical value that never reached the acquiring team.
Arizona Cardinals Return
Arizona Cardinals received Dennis Shaw. Dennis Shaw played only sparingly for St. Louis across the 1974 and 1975 seasons, limiting the Cardinals' return from the quarterback they acquired. That outcome supports a D+ grade because the return is measured by the direct football value Arizona Cardinals actually received after the deal, compared with the asset sent the other way.
Buffalo Bills Return
Buffalo Bills received Ahmad Rashad. Ahmad Rashad started all 14 Bills games in 1974, caught 36 passes for 433 yards and four touchdowns, and added a reception in the postseason. That outcome supports a B+ grade because the return is measured by the direct football value Buffalo Bills actually received after the deal, compared with the asset sent the other way.
Value in Hindsight
Rashad's full 1974 season as a Bills starter and productive receiver clearly exceeded Shaw's limited role in St. Louis. The difference between D+ and B+ comes from the durability and usefulness of the returns, not from the fame of the names involved. For a transaction of this scale, the documented results support a measured distinction rather than an exaggerated one.
Final Verdict
The final call is Buffalo Bills Win. Arizona Cardinals earns D+, and Buffalo Bills earns B+. Those grades reflect the package each club received, the service that followed, and the downstream value that can be tied confidently to the original exchange. That is enough to separate the teams where the results do so, while preserving an even result when neither side gained meaningful football value.