St. Louis purchased defensive end Walter Johnson from San…
St. Louis purchased defensive end Walter Johnson from San Francisco on September 4, 1968, leaving the 49ers with cash and the Cardinals with a former 1967 eighth-round pick. Johnson never appeared in a regular-season game for St. Louis and was released, while San Francisco at least converted a fringe roster asset into compensation. The modest but tangible return gives the 49ers the edge.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Walter Johnson (Clarke)
San Francisco 49ers Received
- other cash
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On September 4, 1968, St. Louis acquired defensive end Walter Clarke Johnson from San Francisco in a cash purchase. Johnson had been the 49ers' eighth-round pick in the 1967 draft and had appeared in one NFL game for San Francisco. The transaction log at Pro Football Archives lists the move as a purchase by St. Louis, which aligns with the trade record's cash going back to the 49ers.
What San Francisco Got
San Francisco received cash for a player who was not part of its meaningful regular-season plans. Johnson's NFL résumé with the 49ers consisted of one game in 1967, and the club moved him before he produced another regular-season appearance. The amount of cash is not preserved in the available record, so this cannot be treated as a major return. Still, converting a marginal roster asset into any compensation was useful and carried no long-term downside.
What St. Louis Got
The Cardinals took a low-cost look at a young defensive lineman with size and recent draft pedigree. The upside never materialized. Johnson's transaction history shows the September purchase followed by a release, and he does not appear among St. Louis's regular-season contributors for 1968. That makes this essentially a failed roster tryout rather than an acquisition that added measurable on-field value.
Final Verdict
The stakes were small, but San Francisco came away with the only durable benefit. St. Louis paid cash and did not receive regular-season production, while the 49ers monetized a player who had barely appeared for them. A B- for San Francisco and D+ for St. Louis reflect the limited scale of the transaction while still recognizing the clear difference in realized value.