St. Louis sent linebacker Dave Olerich to Houston for the…
St. Louis sent linebacker Dave Olerich to Houston for the 1972 fourth-round selection that became No. 84 overall and defensive lineman Martin Imhof. Olerich played all 14 games for the Oilers in 1971 but did not start, while Imhof started eight games for the Cardinals as a rookie in 1972. Neither became a long-term star, but St. Louis extracted the better direct return from the trade.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- pick 1972 fourth round pick (#84-Martin Imhof)
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Dave Olerich
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
St. Louis traded linebacker Dave Olerich to Houston on June 2, 1971, for a 1972 fourth-round draft choice. The selection became No. 84 overall, and the Cardinals used it on defensive lineman Martin Imhof. With one veteran season on one side and a young drafted lineman on the other, the deal can be judged mostly through direct playing time rather than a complicated chain of later transactions.
What Houston Got
Olerich gave the Oilers immediate depth. He appeared in all 14 regular-season games in 1971, which means Houston did receive a usable player rather than an empty return. He did not start a game for the Oilers, however, and the stint did not develop into a multi-year Houston role. That makes the acquisition respectable but limited, especially in exchange for a fourth-round choice.
What St. Louis Got
The Cardinals used the pick on Imhof, who reached the lineup more substantially as a rookie. He appeared in 13 games in 1972 and started eight of them for St. Louis. His Cardinals career was not long enough to turn the pick into a major score, but those starts gave the club more direct lineup value than Houston received from Olerich's one season as a non-starter.
How the Value Separated
Both teams received something useful, which keeps the grades close. Houston got dependable depth for a season. St. Louis converted the future pick into a player who started more than half of his rookie year. The drafted player's greater role provides the separation, even though neither asset became a long-term franchise fixture.
Final Verdict
The Cardinals win modestly, B- to C. Imhof's eight rookie starts create the best realized value in the exchange, while Olerich's full season of Houston depth prevents the Oilers' side from being graded harshly.