Atlanta sent running back Billy Harris to Minnesota for an…
Atlanta sent running back Billy Harris to Minnesota for an unidentified draft choice. Harris appeared in 13 games for the Vikings in 1969 but had only six carries for 13 yards and two receptions for 13 yards, with no touchdowns. Because the exact selection Atlanta received has not been identified, the Falcons’ eventual draft return cannot be measured confidently. The known results support a neutral grade.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick draft pick (selection not identified)
Minnesota Vikings Received
- player Bill Harris / Billy Harris
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Atlanta's historical material records the August 11, 1969 transaction as Billy Harris going to Minnesota for a draft choice. The identity of that selection is not established in the surviving material used here. That missing detail matters because the Falcons' side of the exchange cannot be tied to a specific drafted player. The trade can still be described and graded, but the uncertainty limits how strongly either team can be favored.
What Minnesota Got
Harris did make the Vikings roster and appeared in 13 regular-season games in 1969. His workload was limited. NFL statistics credit him with six rushing attempts for 13 yards and two receptions for another 13 yards, with no touchdowns. He did not start a game for Minnesota. The Vikings therefore received a usable reserve who occupied a roster spot for most of the season, but not a player who materially changed the offense.
What Atlanta Got
Atlanta received a draft choice, but the selection has not been identified with enough certainty to attach a player outcome to it. That prevents a precise comparison with Harris. The Falcons clearly obtained an asset rather than simply releasing the player, yet assigning later production to that asset would go beyond what the historical record establishes. The appropriate approach is to acknowledge the pick while keeping the grade restrained.
Final Verdict
An Even Trade with C grades is the most defensible result. Minnesota received modest one-season depth from Harris. Atlanta received a draft asset, but its exact identity and eventual football value remain unknown. Neither known side of the exchange demonstrates a substantial gain or loss. Confidence is medium rather than high because the unidentified selection leaves part of the outcome unresolved.