St. Louis acquired defensive back Jim Tolbert from Houston…
St. Louis acquired defensive back Jim Tolbert from Houston for linebackers Mike McGill and Jim Hargrove on April 24, 1973. Tolbert immediately started 13 games for the Cardinals and remained there for three seasons, while McGill and Hargrove did not record an NFL season after 1972. That direct post-trade production makes the Cardinals the clear winner.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Jim Tolbert
Tennessee Titans Received
- player Mike McGill
- player Jim Hargrove
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
On April 24, 1973, the St. Louis Cardinals acquired defensive back Jim Tolbert from the Houston Oilers for linebackers Mike McGill and Jim Hargrove. The Cardinals' 1973 media guide lists the exchange in its offseason roster changes, and later Oilers material records the same two-for-one package. The transaction date and player identities therefore align cleanly across both franchise histories.
St Louis Return
Tolbert became an immediate starter. He played 13 games with 13 starts for St. Louis in 1973 and intercepted two passes. He followed with 14 games in both 1974 and 1975, adding two more interceptions during that stretch. Across three Cardinals seasons, he provided 41 regular-season appearances and sustained defensive value. That is exactly the kind of direct post-trade contribution that should drive the hindsight result.
Houston Return
The Oilers received two veteran linebackers, but the timing mattered. McGill's recorded NFL career ends with the 1972 Cardinals, and Hargrove's NFL record also ends after the 1972 season. In other words, Houston obtained recognizable veteran names but did not receive an NFL regular-season season from either after the April 1973 trade. Their earlier career value belongs to prior teams and should not be transferred into Houston's side of this exchange.
Final Verdict
The Cardinals win clearly. Tolbert delivered three seasons, regular starting work, and four interceptions after the deal, while Houston's incoming pair produced no recorded NFL regular-season value after the trade. B+ for Arizona/St. Louis and D+ for Houston/Tennessee reflects a decisive standard-tier result without inflating it to blockbuster scale.