St. Louis sent its 1968 third-round pick to Green Bay and…
St. Louis sent its 1968 third-round pick to Green Bay and received two fourth-round choices in the 1967 draft. The Cardinals gained two immediate selections and used them on Mike Barnes and Andy Bowling. Green Bay received the nominally higher future pick, but the player ultimately selected there, Billy Stevens, appeared in only three NFL games, keeping the practical returns on both sides modest.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1967 fourth round pick (#97-Mike Barnes)
- pick 1967 fourth round pick (#105- Andy Bowling )
Green Bay Packers Received
- pick 1968 third round pick (#67-Billy Stevens)
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
St. Louis and Green Bay completed a draft-day value swap in March 1967. The Cardinals received two fourth-round choices in the current draft, while the Packers received St. Louis' third-round selection in 1968. The package is stated only to the level that published football histories can support, so an unidentified choice stays unidentified instead of being attached to an uncertain player. That keeps the exchange coherent while still allowing the football value on each side to be judged from the assets that are known.
What St. Louis Cardinals Received
St. Louis used the two fourth-round picks on Mike Barnes and Andy Bowling. Barnes appeared in 17 NFL games and Bowling in six, so the Cardinals created some professional roster value but did not uncover a major long-term starter. The grade weighs both the price paid and the practical value that followed. A named draft choice is credited only when the selection can be connected to the exchange, while a general future choice remains general. That approach makes the historical comparison useful without overstating details that surviving accounts do not settle.
What Green Bay Packers Received
Green Bay used the future third-round choice on quarterback Billy Stevens. Stevens appeared in only three NFL games, meaning the nominally higher future pick produced limited professional value. The other side is judged by the same standard: immediate games, starting value, later career impact, and the quality of any draft assets received. Where one part of the package produced little or no NFL value, that matters even if the original transaction looked balanced on paper.
Final Verdict
The deal remains even at C+ for both teams. St. Louis received two shots and Green Bay received the higher future round, but none of the three selected players developed into enough NFL value to create a decisive winner. The verdict reflects the strongest supportable version of the transaction and the career value that followed. It does not depend on assigning an uncertain pick to a player simply to make the package look more complete. The result is a full historical evaluation of the trade that can stand on the known facts.