Green Bay received Carl Greenwood in the June 1997 swap but…
Green Bay received Carl Greenwood in the June 1997 swap but did not obtain a return comparable to what Chris Hayes became for New York. Greenwood failed to create meaningful Packers value, while Hayes developed into a core special-teams contributor for the Jets. That imbalance leaves Green Bay at D+ in a transaction that clearly favored New York.
Green Bay Packers Received
- player Carl Greenwood
New York Jets Received
- player Chris Hayes
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
Green Bay sent Chris Hayes to the Jets for Carl Greenwood on June 5, 1997. On paper, it was a minor player-for-player move involving defensive backs and special-teams options. In practice, New York found a player who fit a specific need and kept delivering value. Hayes became part of the Jets' special-teams identity, while Greenwood did not generate a comparable return for Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers Return
Green Bay received Carl Greenwood in the June 1997 swap but did not obtain a return comparable to what Chris Hayes became for New York. Greenwood failed to create meaningful Packers value, while Hayes developed into a core special-teams contributor for the Jets. That imbalance leaves Green Bay at D+ in a transaction that clearly favored New York.
New York Titans/Jets Return
The Jets brought Chris Hayes back in 1997 with a specific special-teams role in mind, and the move worked. Hayes led New York in special-teams tackles that season and remained an important coverage player for years. Turning Carl Greenwood into a durable contributor to Bill Parcells' teams produced the better return and supports a B- grade.
Value in Hindsight
Special-teams production can be easy to undervalue, but it matters when judging depth trades. Hayes did exactly what New York acquired him to do and did it over time. Green Bay did not receive an equivalent role player in return. That creates a clear winner even though the transaction did not involve premium players or draft capital.
Final Verdict
New York Jets Win. The Jets earn a B- for turning Greenwood into several years of dependable special-teams value. Green Bay receives a D+ because its return did not provide comparable service or staying power.